Reds sign off the year in style.

In what seemed like a practice match, Manchester United demolished Wigan Athleticby 5 goals to retain the second spot before the premier league goes into 2010 giving a nice birthday gift to manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Arsenal also did some similar demolition by defeating Portsmouth 4-1 at Fratton Park. But it was not so easy forLiverpool, only a late strike from Fernando Torres in the injury gave then the much needed victory and some sort of relief to the team.

Goals were raining at Old Trafford with no shelter to the visiting team. Pre match, Park Ji Sung was called in place ofRyan Giggs for the night. Manchester United were into the action as soon as the game started. Having majority of possession, which is always on the cards whether they suffer a defeat too, the first threat came from Nemanja Vidicin the 17th minute with a 25 yard shot on goal but was cleared by Paul Scharner. Manchester United got the first in the 28th minute when Park’s low curling ball from the right got deflected from Rooney’s foot into the left of the goal. The goalkeeper didn’t have the clue what was going on. Just 4 minutes later Michael Carrick doubled United’s lead with a clean strike from the edge of the crowded penalty area. And just before the half time, Rafael De Silvadisplayed brilliant skills to cut three Wigan defenders and score from his left foot. His celebration went till he ran to the dug out to point to his brother. Half time 3-0.

Well it was like United wanted to finish of quiickly, Dimitar Berbatov got the fourth for United in the 50th minute when Valencia’s cross found Dimitar who scored with his right foot. Things were finally wrapped by Antonio Valencia in the 75 minute when Rooney gave a through ball to Valencia who then grabbed the ball and got it past the keeper to finish the proceedings.

So 2009 ends on a high for United who must be hoping to get the treble tag on them in the coming year. And what it looks like now is that the fight is between the current top three for the premiership while Aston Villa will be busy holding for the final champions league spot until some fire ignited in Liverpool and Spurs in ’10.

The bottom three in the premiership as of now.

When the champions are celebrating in the league, there is a section in which dark clouds loom large over some clubs placed 15th to 20th, being more precise the bottom three in the premier league. As everyone can’t be a winner and someone has to come last because this is all competition and it is the survival of the fittest. Coming to the current situation in the English premier league, the bottom three clubs after match week 12 are West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portsmouthwith 10,10 and 7 points respectively. It is interesting to see that the 3 teams promoted to the premier league included Burnley, Birmingham City and Wolves in which Burnley is comfortable at 10th position and is unlikely to be relegated back again for the next season. Birmingham City is at 15th position and has to win their upcoming matches so that the relegation lines are erased for them.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (or Wolves as popularly known as) are way down and need as A.S.A.P thinking on their strategies to avoid the demotion. Currently first from the bottom, Portsmouth is most likely on way to the first division losing 9 of the total 12 matches played so far and drawing one. A lot of work is left for the club and care taker come full time manager Paul Hart needs to gel in quickly.

The trouble for the port city club started when Harry Redknapp left the club in Oct’08 to become the manager ofTottenham Hotspurs and guiding the club 4th place currently. Tony Adams joined after than but was sacked after only 2 wins in 15 games. As the rich Al-Faraj family of Saudi Arabia, who are the owner of the club, must be looking at the January ’10 transfer window for a high return investment so that the club remains in the top league and aim higher the season thereafter. Last… and hopefully not the least the Hammers needs to start their work otherwise they will be crushed.

Zola needs to prove that he is a saviour when it comes to managing a team which he was like a player.

Berbatov, Rooney takes Red Devils to victory

Two goals from Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov took Manchester United to a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers. Leaders Chelsea continued their winning form with no problems in beating Bolton Wanderers by 4 goals while maintaining the clean sheet. Their high scoring form is a definite worry for the opponents who are about to face them in the near future. They maintain their lead at the top. In the match at Old Trafford, Manchester United looked a bit defensive in the first half one with only two-three chances on the goal. Just before the break Dimitar Berbatov was denied a goal because of off-side. Rover’s goal keeper Paul Robinson had to do his bit to denyBerbatov’s shot. With no real threats, the match went goal less to the break.

Second half had plenty of action, the deadlock was finally broken by Berbatov in the 55th minute when Patrice Evrawas allowed space to advance and shoot and, although his effort was heading off-target, Berbatov needed only an expert left-footed touch to control it, then an even better touch with his right to arrow the volley inside Robinson‘s post. The eager fans waiting finally came to an end and the victory songs at old Trafford started to pick the pace. And just three minutes from the normal time Wayne Rooney seal the victory for the home side when he chipped the ball from Anderson’s cross over the visiting keeper. So Wayne Rooney’s goal touch is finally back as predicted.Blackburn did their best to narrow the lead when in the injury time when a goal was disallowed from substituteNikola Kalinic, who was incorrectly deemed offside as he tapped in the rebound after Edwin van der Sar had saved superbly from Benni McCarthy. This match has set up a good mood for the midweek’s champions league tie againstCSKA Moscow. In the London derby, Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspurs with a 3-0 scoreline to maintain their third spot in the premiership. Other scores are… 

 Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United
Portsmouth 4-0 Wigan
Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
Fulham 3-1 Liverpool
Stoke City 2-2 Wolves
Burnley 2-0 Hull City

 

In the absence of premiership this weekend…

After a long time, there will be no premiership action this weekend (a rare scenario) as many players playing in different leagues around the world will be out in national colours to play in the world cup qualifiers. It is a day when John Terry will be playing alongside Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard may pair up with Wayne Rooney in the front. In the UEFA region, England will be playing against Ukraine among others.

While in South America, Argentina play a must win encounter against Paraguay and thier will be huge expectations from Lionel Messi, who play for Barcelona in Spain, to fire in order to save his country from not qualifying for the first time in two decades. Carloz Tevez will be using his city experience for his country to win this match.
Nowdays as the players are engaged with clubs most of the time, national coaches have some tough time when it comes to national duties as they have less time together as compared to their league counterparts. As soon as the qualifiers are over the players have to quickly adjust to the league conditions where they are for most part of the season.
As the league is off, the attention is diverted to off field actvities where everything related to shoes, jerseys, training kits etc takes the center stage and of course players as indivisuals. While you read about players in specific areas immediately some or the other player’s name comes to our mind. So who do you think they are… It is expected that the defenders should be like a wall, the midfielders should be Mr. Dependable and the strikers has to be a “lightning strikes twice-thrice…” material who score while others are caught unaware. So who is your favourite player on the EPL pitch which matches these qualities in different categories?