The Official Club Football 2014-2015 thread

[Texasluvsjonny]

I think 'Arry should bring Tony Adams with him to Spurs.

[busybeeburns]

Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool

 

Alonso's goal ended Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home run

 

Liverpool demonstrated their growing title credentials by ending Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten run in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge and moving three points clear at the top of the table.

 

Xabi Alonso's deflected 10th-minute goal gave Liverpool victory and shattered a Chelsea sequence stretching back to February 2004 on home turf.

 

It was a deserved triumph for Rafael Benitez's side achieved without Fernando Torres and the first setback for the reign of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea.

 

Chelsea enjoyed long periods of possession, but Liverpool never flinched and could have doubled their victory margin had Alonso's second-half free-kick not hit an upright.

 

Ashley Cole missed Chelsea's best chance after the break, allowing Liverpool to record a victory which is of huge significance in terms of their confidence and self-belief.

 

If this game was a measure of Liverpool's ability to finally mount a serious title challenge, then they will have left west London in the knowledge that they now appear to have the ability to finally challenge Chelsea and Manchester United in domestic battle.

 

Chelsea simply ran out of ideas in the face of a red wall of defensive resistance, with Liverpool's defence led magnificently by Jamie Carragher impenetrable.

 

Scolari's side opened with a surge of confidence, but took a real knock when Alonso gave Liverpool the lead.

 

He latched on to a half-clearance, and while his effort carried little power, a deflection off Jose Bosingwa was enough to wrong-foot Petr Cech.

 

The rest of the opening period was a tale of Chelsea dominating possession but Liverpool were superbly organised and carried an ever-present threat of a second goal on the break.

 

Steven Gerrard almost provided it after 23 minutes with a dipping effort from 25 yards that required the fingertips of Cech to turn it to safety.

 

Javier Mascherano was offering Liverpool's defence fierce protection, and an atmosphere of frustration was growing around Stamford Bridge.

 

But Deco almost provided the equaliser nine minutes before the interval when Gerrard lost possession, and the Portugal midfielder advanced before sending a left-foot shot inches wide.

 

Chelsea may have enjoyed territorial superiority in the first 45 minutes, but the resilience Liverpool have demonstrated throughout this season ensured keeper Pepe Reina had not had any serious work to do.

 

Liverpool's increasing confidence was demonstrated at the start of the second half, with Gerrard pushed into a more advanced role in support of Robbie Keane.

 

There was a moment of anxiety for Reina after 54 minutes when he brought down Florent Malouda as he raced into the area, but the linesman's flag had already been raised.

 

It was Malouda's final contribution as Scolari made a double change, sending on substitutes Franco di Santo and Juliano Belletti, with Salomon Kalou also taken off.

 

Liverpool sent on Ryan Babel for Keane and they came within inches of doubling their advantage after 61 minutes.

 

Alonso's low free-kick left Cech motionless, but for Liverpool it agonisingly struck the base of the post and stayed out.

 

Cole, having already been booked, ran the risk of a red card with a needless foul on Babel, but the foolish intervention of Mascherano in an attempt to ensure he was sent off ended with a yellow card for the Argentine.

 

Liverpool had applied pressure points to Chelsea all over the pitch, and as the clock ticked down on their formidable home record, some of the calm and order that had characterised their play had disappeared.

 

But they fashioned their best chance of the game after 72 minutes, only for Cole to slice hopelessly wide when Di Santo knocked Frank Lampard's cross into his path.

 

Carragher defended heroically to block Deco, but Babel then showed his threat with a rising drive that was just inches away.

 

Chelsea pressed in the closing stages, but never in any convincing fashion on another day when Liverpool confirmed their growing stature.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7674108.stm

[busybeeburns]

A reminder that there is an RSS Premier League feed at http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/abouttoday.php?do=rss&id=19 ;)

[Jack]

keegan was an outstanding appointment.

 

he loves the club, and if you remember after he had a month or so last season newcastle started winning week in, week out, they notched up some pretty good results along the way. then when he went, the players just lost all of their motivation, plus the fact that they were all up for sale on the last day of the market.

 

the club is a joke itself.

 

and the fans are exactly the same.

 

 

 

You're such an idiot. You got all of your "knowledge" from the news papers and internet, and chances are you've been greatly misled.

 

Milner wanted to go. He wanted more money and he put the transfer request in. He's now at Villa where he gets paid way too much and doesn't get his game.

 

"Fact" that they were all put up for sale on the last day of the transfer market?

 

Seriously.... You think if those players were up for sale they'd still be here? Martins? Owen? Given? N'Zogbia? No, noone was sold even close to the end of the window except Milner, and he wanted to leave. If he wanted to raise money, why did he wait til the last day? Better question: why did Ashley spend 5m on a striker the day before the transfer window shut?

 

Your "knowledge" is total bullshit and you're one of the most biased football fans without a clue I've ever seen.

[Black Rose]

Owen will be going in January ;)

 

To Spurs

[Jack]

Who knows.

 

I hope not, but with Newcastle the future is probably uncertain. If I had to predict, I'd say he'll be here next season.

 

 

As for Portsmouth...

 

I hope they give Tony Adams a shot. It was a surprise at first about Harry going but when you think about it, it was sort of inevitable.

[Black Rose]

Hopefully Tony will stay, he knows the players

[Larry]

Somehow I'm glad that Tottenham won its game last weekend! :D

 

Rumour say that Tottenham has a butcher's at Ibisevic. He's currently topscorer in the Bundesliga and plays for 1899 Hoffenheim. What an amazing and talented player! He and Obasi are responsible for the fact that Hoffenheim who played in the 2. Bundesliga last season is on the top of the 1. Bundesliga now. :laugh3:

 

And Tottenham did pretty well with Berbatov either. ;)

[HorrificAttack]

They have good players, they just have a large selection of egotistical cunts who want to play as individuals, if Harry can sort that out then they can be a great team

[mc_squared]

They have good players, they just have a large selection of egotistical cunts

 

The chairman included.;)

[Jack]

NEWCASTLE WON

 

WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE. WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE.

 

 

NEWCASTLE TOP 4 THIS SEASON WE'RE GONNA TURN IT AROUND GUARANTEED.

 

 

 

 

 

just feel like i have to state that this is a joke, before people go on the ever so tired road of "newcastle fans aim too high! they're all delusional!"

 

happy with the win though

[busybeeburns]

astonishing goal from David Bentley :o

 

Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham (latest 12 mins)

[busybeeburns]

Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham :o :o :o

[busybeeburns]

Chelsea 5-0 Sunderland

 

Nicolas Anelka celebrates after scoring his second goal

 

Nicolas Anelka hit a hat-trick as Chelsea demolished Sunderland and moved above Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.

 

Alex began the rout, tapping in when Marton Fulop allowed Joe Cole's shot to squirm free, and it was quickly 2-0 when Anelka met Frank Lampard's cross.

 

Florent Malouda unselfishly set up Anelka to add a third goal and Lampard headed in Cole's cross to make it four.

 

Anelka fired home from Malouda's cross to complete the scoring inside an hour.

 

Stamford Bridge may no longer be seen as a fortress after Liverpool's victory there last weekend but, for Chelsea, this was the perfect riposte to seeing their 86-match unbeaten run ended in their last outing on home soil.

 

Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari voiced his concern before the game that his side have been struggling to break down sides who come to west London merely to defend.

 

But he had no such worries here as his side quickly took Sunderland apart in an opening 45 minutes that saw them score three goals that were as stylish as they were simple.

 

From the start, with the visitors struggling to get out of their own half, it was clear that this game would be about whether Chelsea could find a way through their defence and, if so, how often.

 

Initially, Sunderland defended resolutely and it appeared luck was also on their side when Deco's looping shot landed on top of the crossbar.

 

But Scolari's men made the breakthrough after 27 minutes when Joe Cole's shot eluded Fulop and Alex arrived to scoop the ball over the line and score Chelsea's 1,000th Premier League goal.

 

Three minutes later, and in almost identical fashion, it was 2-0. This time Deco set Lampard free on the right and although Alex was first to his cross, it was Anelka who got the last touch.

 

With his side chasing shadows, it was becoming an afternoon to forget for Black Cats boss Roy Keane but things soon got worse.

 

As torrential rain continued to fall, Chelsea kept playing their instinctive passing game and scored a third goal just before the break to underline their superiority.

 

Joe Cole linked up with Lampard, who in turn fed the ball to Malouda, and the French striker chose to give his compatriot Anelka the simple task of rolling his shot home.

 

Keane, who felt Cole fouled Pascal Chimbonda in the build-up, was livid and his reward was to be banished from the dug-out for the second-half by referee Martin Atkinson.

 

His view may have been better from the stands but his mood is unlikely to have improved after seeing his side continue to be outplayed after the break.

 

Within six minutes of the restart, the majestic Cole got to the right-hand bye-line and stood the ball up for Lampard who, despite falling backwards got enough power on his header to put it in the far corner for his 100th league goal.

 

And seconds later it was 5-0 - Anelka completing his hat-trick after sliding to meet Malouda's cross with a shot that Fulop should have kept out.

 

After that flurry of five goals in 26 minutes, Scolari's side took their foot off the pedal, perhaps with one eye on their Champions League trip to Roma on Tuesday.

 

Sunderland showed no signs of a recovery but they did threaten to salvage some pride when Djibril Cisse ran clear towards the end.

 

But, on a day of landmarks for the home side, it was fitting that Petr Cech denied him and went on to keep his 100th clean sheet for Chelsea.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7684736.stm

[busybeeburns]

Man Utd 4-3 Hull

 

Ronaldo has scored twice in each of his last two games

 

Manchester United survived a late rally by Hull to move up to third place in the Premier League.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a low strike before Daniel Cousin headed Hull level at the near post.

 

Michael Carrick struck from 20 yards, Ronaldo headed in a corner and Nemanja Vidic volleyed home as United led 4-1.

 

But Bernard Mendy lobbed Edwin van der Sar, and when Mendy was fouled by Rio Ferdinand, Geovanni converted the penalty to set up a grandstand finish.

 

Hull started the match two points ahead of their opponents and defending an unbeaten away record in the Premier League but Phil Brown's team were outclassed by their illustrious and expensively assembled opponents for most of the game.

 

Following the defeat against Chelsea on Wednesday, it was the first time the Tigers have lost successive games since their promotion to the Premier League.

 

However, Hull continued to show the desire and willingness to compete that has already brought them 20 points - and in doing so came closer than at one point seemed possible to taking something from the match.

 

Despite the late scare, United have really started to find their form after a quiet start to the season and have now won eight of their last nine fixtures while playing with increasing style and verve.

 

Against Hull it was as if the United forwards, energised and challenged by a sublime piece of play from Dimitar Berbatov against West Ham on Wednesday, were all trying to showcase their talents.

 

Ronaldo used the bottom of his boot to cushion a long ball into the path of Berbatov in only the third minute.

 

The Bulgarian's cross-cum-shot was controlled by Ronaldo, whose shot on the turn with his left foot went in off the post.

 

With the goal coming so early, the situation looked ominous for the visiting team, but United were guilty of over-playing time and again, with flicks, feints and elaborate turns the order of the day despite their slender lead.

 

Occasionally a Hull player was made to look foolish - one turn from Berbatov leaving George Boateng chasing shadows while Ronaldo picked out a team-mate despite looking in the other direction.

 

But the visiting team would not be cowed, chasing and challenging their illustrious opponents.

 

And the Tigers stunned the vast majority of the crowd when Cousin brilliantly headed his team level at the near post from Andy Dawson's free-kick.

 

United's electrifying play suddenly acquired a great deal more potency and a swift break culminated in Berbatov passing to Carrick, whose precise low strike with his left foot also went in off the post.

 

The home team effectively sealed victory shortly before the break when Ronaldo headed the third from Nani's corner, the ball taking a slight deflection off Paul McShane.

 

Berbatov shot across goal and wide shortly after the resumption while Ronaldo dallied after being played clean through and Kamil Zayatte made a brilliant block.

 

But poor defending allowed a corner to reach Vidic low down and he guided the ball past Myhill, who should have done better.

 

It was starting to look like a case of damage limitation for the Tigers - but it was Hull who scored next.

 

Substitute Mendy brilliantly lobbed the ball over the advancing Van der Sar. Vidic almost pulled off a brilliant clearance but the linesman correctly ruled the ball had crossed the goal-line before the Serb booted it clear.

 

Myhill saved a venomous strike from Rooney but Hull's never-say-die spirit ensured a dramatic final few minutes. Mendy was brought down by Ferdinand and Geovanni made no mistake from the spot.

 

Rooney, for one, was flustered and was lucky to stay on the field after a couple of dangerous tackles in very quick succession. He was booked for the second of them.

 

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (Giggs 72), Anderson (O'Shea 88), Nani (Tevez 64), Berbatov, Rooney.

Subs Not Used: Foster, Park, Rafael Da Silva, Fletcher.

 

Booked: Rooney, Tevez.

 

Goals: Ronaldo 3, Carrick 29, Ronaldo 44, Vidic 57.

 

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Marney, Hughes (Mendy 59), Boateng (Folan 86), Geovanni, King (Halmosi 63), Cousin.

Subs Not Used: Duke, Barmby, Garcia, Ricketts.

 

Booked: Turner, Mendy.

 

Goals: Cousin 23, Mendy 69, Geovanni 82 pen.

 

Att: 75,398

 

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7684745.stm

[busybeeburns]

Stoke 2-1 Arsenal

 

Stoke punished Arsenal with basic but effective tactics

 

Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana both scored after long throw-ins by Rory Delap as Arsenal capitulated and also had Robin van Persie sent off.

 

Delap sent a throw to the far post and Fuller glanced in for the opener.

 

Delap, himself, then looped in a header that Gael Clichy cleared off the line before Olofinjana chested in Stoke's second from another Delap throw-in.

 

Van Persie saw red for shoving Thomas Sorensen before Clichy pulled a goal back with a deflected shot.

 

The defeat is another serious blow to Arsenal's title aspirations, while Stoke will be delighted with three points that take them a little further away from the drop zone.

 

There was nothing pretty - or surprising - in the way Stoke went about their business, but it proved effective.

 

An Arsenal side selected to cope with their opponents' physical presence struggled to handle Stoke strike pair Fuller and Mamady Sidibe.

 

And a combination of Delap's speciality throw-in and Fuller's strength cost Arsenal dear as the pair fashioned Stoke's winner.

 

Kolo Toure was dominated by Fuller, whose deft touch to Delap's delivery sent the ball past keeper Manuel Almunia.

 

Arsenal, lacking the guile and pace of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott - both on the bench - looked disjointed and bewildered.

 

And it could have been worse for the Gunners had Delap managed to get a little more power on a goalbound header that Clichy cleared.

 

A tame Emmanuel Adebayor shot that Sorensen comfortably gathered was the best Arsenal could muster.

 

The Gunners brought on Walcott on 57 minutes in the hope of adding some thrust to their play.

 

But with Cesc Fabregas a shadow of himself, one wondered where the England youngster's supply line would come from.

 

Instead it was the hosts who almost scored when another Delap throw caused mayhem and Salif Diao's volley from the edge of the area was superbly saved by Almunia.

 

It was a warning that Arsenal failed to heed, and from Delap's next throw-in, Ryan Shawcross nodded on and Olofinjana scrambled the ball over the line, nudging it forwards twice with his chest.

 

Worse was to come on a miserable day for the visitors when Van Persie, on the pitch for only 12 minutes, was dismissed after needlessly barging into Sorensen.

 

After a lengthy delay for an injury to Walcott, who was stretchered off, Clichy's effort from the edge of the box went in with the help of a couple of deflections.

 

But there was to be no great escape for Arsenal, and they would not have deserved one.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7684755.stm

[Jenjie]

Hull seem to be having a party in the premiership! :D

[HorrificAttack]

Stoke don't play football, I really hope they go down with Bolton.

[shiver1231]

I'm so upset Arsenal lost:(

But I'm really happy Spurs beat Liverpool... Pavlyuchenko saves the day! Guess they're no longer in the lead!!:dance: (sorry Liverpool fans)

[Mimixxx]

Spurs beat Liverpool?! :o

[Maldini]

Finally Liverpool get kicked;)

[bart]

please join

 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36162522441#/group.php?gid=38323751338&ref=mf

[Black Rose]

Hull seem to be having a party in the premiership! :D

 

5 years ago they almost fell out of the football league, so being in the premiership is a big bonus for then.

[Black Rose]

please join

 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36162522441#/group.php?gid=38323751338&ref=mf

 

We're give you £2,99 for him :wink3:

 

Tony Adams got his first win yesterday against Roy Keane's Sunderland, like Arsenal v Man Utd again :laugh3:

[busybeeburns]

Man City 1-2 Tottenham

 

Darren Bent scored twice as 10-man Tottenham continued their good recent run against nine-man Man City.

 

Robinho fired the opener for the home side in the 15th minute before Gelson Fernandes was sent off for a second bookable offence.

 

Bent ran clear and slotted home to equalise for Spurs and then side-footed his second on the hour.

 

City captain Richard Dunne was shown a straight red :laugh3: and Spurs' Benoit Assou-Ekotto was dismissed late on.

 

The result extends Tottenham's unbeaten run under Harry Redknapp to five matches and will be particularly sweet for the man himself - only six weeks ago his Portsmouth side were thumped 6-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium.

 

When the initial anger regarding the sendings-off subsides, City manager Mark Hughes will be left to reflect on the fact that his side remain consistent only in their inconsistency.

 

Fuelled by their newfound confidence, Tottenham started the stronger and had the lions' share of possession, and they forged the game's first real chance through the sprightly Luka Modric, who curled a decent long-range effort just past Joe Hart's left-hand post.

 

However, in what was essentially Man City's first real attack and against the run of play, they opened the scoring.

 

Gomes could only parry a shot from Darius Vassell from the right side of the penalty area and Robinho was on hand to fire into the largely unguarded net.

 

The wind was taken out of the home side's sails, though, when Fernandes was sent off following a second yellow card.

 

He was first booked after 18 minutes for unsporting behaviour and then six minutes later was controversially shown red for an illegal challenge on David Bentley, whose dismissal changed the course of the match.

 

Shortly after, City defender Dunne completely missed an innocuous-looking long-ball forward and allowed Bent to race clear before calmly slotting the ball under the advancing Hart for his 10th of the season.

 

After the break Tottenham were able to funnel their numerical advantage into a domination of possession. However, real openings were rare and City, with the bit between their embittered teeth, punched above their reduced weight.

 

City's resilience was only brief, though, and Bent did grab his second of the game on 63 minutes. Jermaine Jenas held a long ball up and laid the ball off to the onrushing striker who expertly slotted his shot inside the far post.

 

As befitting a £32m player, Robinho continued to offer City hope and Gomes was forced to palm aside his 25-yard shot on 75 minutes.

 

City were reduced to nine men with 10 minutes to go when Dunne capped a horrible afternoon by dragging down Bent when the striker was through on goal.

 

Tottenham were themselves reduced to 10-men late on when Assou-Ekotto was shown a straight red for a rash foul on Pablo Zabaleta.

 

City pushed hard for an equaliser but it was Tottenham who came closest to adding to the score when counter-attacking substitute Aaron Lennon found Bent in space, only for his shot to be saved.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7709050.stm