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Friday, April 28, 2006

UEFA CUP:
Middlesbrough 4-2 Steaua Bucharest
Sevilla 1-0 Shalke 04

McClaren brings a part of the theatre of dreams to the riverside
Another comeback for middlesbrough. 3-0 down on aggregate, Maccarone comes on to start the comeback. Viduka headed in the second and Chris Riggort sent in the third that set up a repeat performance against Basel. And it was the same person at the same time at the same place. Massimo Maccarone scored at the 89th minute to send Boro to Holland. It is the theatre of dreams at teeside and it's onto eindhoven to face Sevilla who won in extra time against Shalke 04.

I predicted the two winners right again. boro vs Sevilla. Go boro, arsenal!

EPL predictions premiership Saturday to Labour day:

Chelsea 0 v 2 Man Utd
Birmingham 1 v 3 Newcastle
Liverpool 2 v 2 Aston Villa
Man City 1 v 1 Fulham
Middlesbrough 2 v 2 Everton
Wigan 1 v 2 Portsmouth
Charlton 0 v 0 Blackburn
Tottenham 1 v 1 Bolton
Sunderland 0 v 1 Arsenal
Man Utd 2 v 0 Middlesbrough
West Brom 1 v 2 West Ham
Blackburn 1 v 0 Chelsea

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 8:05 PM

Thursday, April 27, 2006

EPL result:

West Ham Utd 1-2 Liverpool
Nigel Reo-Coker 46'
Djibril Cisse 19',54'
Hayden Mullins & Luis Garcia sent off

A full dressed rehersal for the FA cup finals ends in a 2-1 liverpool win. However, the disappointment was that both Mullins and Garcia, who were sent off after fighting on the pitch, are to miss the FA cup finals do to the 3 match ban for a red card. Both managers are pleading for lenancy, saying that it would destroy their moral having to miss a big cup final.

UEFA champions League:
Barcelona 0-0 AC Milan

Another match that ended in controversy when Shevchenko's headed goal was disallowed as the referee taught that he had pushed spanish defender Puyol down en route to the goal. However, television reply showed that the Barcelona skipper actually slipped while attempting to clear the ball.

Arsenal will battle it out with Barcelona in Paris which, according to Gael Clichy, is hone to France-nal. Arsenal is made up of a high number of french players or players who played in France. Henry, Clichy, Pires and Adebayor are amongst the few.

UEFA CUP PREDICTIONS:
Middlesbrough 2-0 Steaua Bucharest
Sevilla 1-0 Shalke 04

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 5:46 PM

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Champions league Results:
Villarreal 0-0 Arsenal

I'm on a roll with the predictions. I predicted a 1-0 west ham win against Middlesbrough in the FA cup as well as a win for Liverpool. And now, the predicted 0-0 draw in spain has been added to the list of correct predictions. Let's hope that it can carry on to the next champions league semis.

Arsenal were rarely on the attack. They sat back and let Villarreal pounce on them. They had only one shot while Villarreal had around 14. The most important moment was when a soft penalty kick was awarded to Villarreal. Juan Roman Riquelme stepped up but was unable to beat Jens Lehman. 0-0 and Arsenal qualify.

I predict a 2-0 scoreline at the Nou Camp and a dream final in Paris. Arsenal vs Barcelona.

EPL Results:

Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester City

Vassell 71

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 7:21 PM

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

EPL results:

Wigan's european hopes were damaged when Fulham sneaked a win with a Malbranque goal during first half injury time. The result means that Wigan's hopes of qualifying for the UEFA cup were dented. That would be a disappointment as Wigan stay in the top have of the table in a very sucessful madien season in the premiership which saw them reach the finals of the Carling Cup.

Champions League prediction:

Arsenal vs Villareal in spain, a tough call and it is tough to predict the outcome of the match. But if I had to make a prediction, it would be a 0-0 draw.

With that 0-0 draw, Arsenal will go into the finals in Paris to try to achieve a back-to-back UEFA champions League win for England after Liverpool lifted the trophy last season. But will they be facing last years losing finalist AC Milan or argubaly the best team in the world, Barcelona? My prediction, Barcelona. Barcelona would reach their first final in a long time and would most likely beat AC Milan at least 2-0 at the Nou Camp. With Both 2nd leg in Spain, you would wonder if Arsenal and Barcelona would want to watch each other.

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 7:42 PM

Monday, April 24, 2006

FA CUP SEMI_FINALS:

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Drogba 71 Riise 21
Luis Garcia 47
Middlesbrough 0-1 West Ham United
Marlon Harewood 76

My FA cup predictions were spot on. Although the Chelsea vs Liverpool game didn't make extra time, I predicted a Liverpool win and that was what transpired at Old trafford. The Chelsea wall broke in order for Riise's shot to sail into the net. Luis GArcia Got behind the Chelsea back 4 to volley home a fantastic goal. Drogba nicked one at the death but Joe Cole's missed oppotunity in the 83rd minute surrendered Liverpool the cup. Terry had a headed goal disallowed earlier.

West Ham United qualified for the finals with the exact same scoreline as I predicted. Middlesbrough lost first choice goalkeeper through a broken cheekbone and had to be replaced by Bradley Jones. It was Jones who couldn't prevent Marlon Harewood's power blast from entering the net. Liverpool will meet west ham at Cardiff.

EPL result:
Arsenal 1 v 1 Tottenham
Bolton 4 v 1 Charlton
Everton 0 v 0 Birmingham
Newcastle 3 v 0 West Brom
Portsmouth 2 v 1 Sunderland

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 9:37 AM

Friday, April 21, 2006

Transfer Rumours: (They are after all only rumours so it might not be accurate)

Chelsea--Michael Ballack must make a decision to sign with Chelsea before world cup. Shevechenko to be swapped for 40 million and Hernan Crespo.
Arsenal--Leading the Chase to sign spanish striker Fernando Torres.
Manchester United--Said to have offered Villareal a 8 illion pound bid for Juan Roman Riquelme. Other transfer targets include Lyon' Mahammadou Diarra, Tottenham's Michael Carrick and Chelsea's Joe Cole.
Wigan--Man U's Tim Howard is their main target.
Real Madrid--Claims Ruud van Nistelrooy was offered to them, makes Steven Gerrard their top target.
Inter Milan--Looking for a EPL striker, most likely Ruud van Nistelrooy or Arsenal's Thierry Henry.
Liverpool--Might want to sign Michael Owen from Newcastle United after they Clear out sale next season.

->That's all I have for the moment.

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 10:17 AM

Thursday, April 20, 2006

UEFA Champions league:

Both Arsenal and Barcelona recorded a 1-0 win in their first leg match-up. Guily finished off a beautifully worked ball from Ronaldinho and Arsenal's defender, kolo Toure scored the only goal at highbury. Both legs are still wide open and anyone could still qualify in next weeks 2nd leg matches.

Weekend preview:
FA CUP SEMI:

Chelsea faces of against Liverpool and in ironic fashion, at their rival's home ground, Old Trafford. Chelsea will start as favourites but on form Liverpool would want to salvage their season and snatch the FA cup. I predict a Liverpool victory after extra time. The United players would have a week off as they should be at the theatre of dreams studying their opponents for the trip to the bridge on the 29th of April.

Middlesbrough will face West Ham at what should be a mouth-watering 'UEFA cup qualifier' at Villa Park(Not confirmed). The winner of this match would in fact not only be in the FA cup finals, but will qualify for europe. The FA cup winners are usually the ones who get an automatic spot in europes second tere competition but with their cup final opponents already assured a place in the champions league, the runners-up for the cup, which will either be west ham or middlesbrough, will get the european spot. Therefore, with so much on the line, I feel west ham will win by a solitary goal.

- English Premiership - : Predictions

Arsenal 2 v 1 Tottenham
Bolton 2 v 2 Charlton
Everton 2 v 1 Birmingham
Newcastle 3 v 0 West Brom
Portsmouth 3 v 0 Sunderland
Fulham 1 v 1 Wigan
Aston Villa 2 v 1 Man City

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 11:31 AM

Thursday, April 06, 2006

WHERE THE TITLE WILL BE LOST BY CHELSEA

We all know that it would be a miracle for manchester United to beat Chelsea to the premiership title. But if there is any hope that should happen, this would be it. man U will have to be undefeatable in their final 6 games.

Chelsea-----------------------79
Man Utd----------------------72

Chelsea Manchester United
West Ham W-W Arsenal
Bolton L-W Sunderland
Everton W-W Tottenham
Man Utd D-W Middlesbrough
Blackburn L-D Chelsea
Newcastle D-W Charlton

Man Utd----------------------88

Chelsea-----------------------87

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 4:16 PM

EPL weekend results:

Chelsea are stumbling, a 0-0 draw against relegation threaten Birmingham. And now the title race hangs in the balance.
Bolton did give Manchester United a scare when Sean Davis nutmegged Rio Ferdinand to score the opener at the reebok. But Louis Saha produced a special goal and finished of Silvestre extodinary pass with the outside of his left foot as it curled to Bolton's far post. That is why he placed Ruud on the bench. But he wouldn't be there for long. he came on after 55 mins and turned the game on it's head. At a time when Bolton was having all the chances, United launched a counter attack. van Nistelrooy flicked on the ball to Ronaldo who gave Saha a one-on-one oppotunity which he blew. Saha then returned the favour to Ruud when he flicked on the ball for Ruud to chip the keeper, whih just went too high. But the two strikers combined again. Giggs spotted Saha who immediately squared the ball to Ruud van Nistelrooy to score his 150th united goal, 21st of the season, 2nd winning goal. 2-1 it ended and the gap at the top down to 7 points with united welcoming Arsenal on Sunday.
Arsenal hammered Villa 5-0. Henry's double meant that he too, was level with Ruud on 21 league goals of the season. Will one of them go ahead of the other? We'll find out on Sunday shall we?
Liverpool persue 2nd spot with a unconvincing 2-0 win. They should have gotten more and WBA should have gotten goals having played well in the second half.
tottenham stumbled to a reviving Newcastle United 3-1 with Shearer scoring his 17th goal against tottenham.
Elsewhere, Sunderland draw 2-2 with Everton, Pompey ends Fulhams remarkable home record, which includes a victory against Chelsea, with a 3-1 win. Wigan and Blackburn drew 1-1 with 2 goals disallowed. On closer inspection, Wigan's goal should have stood and Blackburns goal should have been disallowed. However, Pedersen's disallowed goal should have stood. Wigan should have won it 2-1 but 1-1 was the final result. Teddy Sheringham was denied a 40th birthday goal by Thomas Myhre when the Charlton goalkeeper stopped a 2 feet volley from the experienced striker.

European Champions League:
AC Milan hammer Lyon 3-1 with Sir Alex scouting his tranfer target, 24 year old Lyon goalscorer, Mahammadou Diarra.
Villareal go on to the semis with a goal from returning R Arruabarrena. They beat inter 1-0 and go through on man U reject, Diego Forlan's away goal.
Arsenal hold Juventus to a 0-0 draw in Turin in a game that returning Pavel Nedved was sent off. Arsenal are through to their first ever semi-final.
Barcelona join them in the last four when they beat Benfica 2-0 at the Nou Camp. Ronaldinho's miss penalty was covered up with his goal on 19 minute with Samuel Eto'o rounding things of 1 minute from time.

A look ahead: Key matches
Potrsmouth have a difficult task when they invite Blackburn Rovers to Fratton Park.
Sunderland would be relegated shout traveling Fulham be able to win away from home for the first time this season.
Wigan would want to persue their slim UEFA cup hopes when they meat relegation strugglers Birmingham who defeated Bolton in their midweek game. Tiredness will take it's toll on the travellers, surely.
An action packed sunday will start with Villa battling WBA, who are struggling to avoid relegation. Followed closely by Chelsea's home game against West Ham. The hammers would want to dent Chelsea's title hopes with Sheringham wanting to assist his former club to the title and Anton trying to beat his older brother, Rio, in their personal goalscoring competition.
Liverpool pursue of United's 2nd auto qualification spot will be threatened by Bolton's European ambitions.
Then the final but most higly anticipated game of the week. Arsenal away to Manchester United. A close 70,000 fans should be in the arena cheering Manchester United on to beat UEFA Champions League Semi-finalist Arsenal. Arsene Wenger hopes to assist Chelsea in their bid for the EPL title by defeating arch-rivals, Manu. But it won't be easy as they are facing the most on form side in the premier league who are currently on a 8 game winning streak since their 4-0 thumping of Wigan in the league Cup finals.

<--Matthew Matthias Tay--> Red Devil entered entry @ 3:41 PM