..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Platt: Manchester City can still win the Premier League

Manchester City assistant manager David Platt believes his side still has every chance of retaining its Premier League title, despite finding itself seven points adrift of leader Manchester United.

The former England international conceded the points gap at the top is a “significant amount”, but insists the Etihad Stadium outfit is playing well enough to catch its cross-city rival.

"Seven points is a significant amount, there's no doubt about it,” Platt told reporters. “United are in the driving seat but there is half a season to go. I don't think it is insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination.

"It's not as though we are playing badly. We feel as though we are playing well, we are producing efforts on target. We are dominating possession and every statistic in most games, except goals."

Platt further highlighted a lack of goals as City's key current weakness and called for the club's strikers to improve in front of goal.

"In the last few games we have produced enough efforts on goal but if you correlate the statistics, we should be scoring more goals,” he said. "These things have a habit of balancing out over the season. Goalscorers usually have the same quota that they had [in previous years].

"I think if you asked them they would be disappointed but goalscorers go through barren spells. It is just unfortunate that at the moment all of them seem to be having one at the same time.

"It's not just them. Compared to the number of goals we scored last season we are significantly down but that is all around the pitch. We have got to produce better chances and we have to put them away."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Giggs admits Manchester United has missed 'world class' Vidic

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs has admitted his side has missed the presence of captain Nemanja Vidic.

The Serbian had been out since September after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury but started United's 1-1 draw with Swansea last week before making the bench for their 4-3 Boxing Day win over Newcastle.

And Giggs believes the center back has been a big miss, telling Absolute Radio: "He’s a great defender, a world class defender, so we’ve no doubt missed him over the last year or so."

The Welshman went on to express concern over his side’s current defensive frailty, conceding the Red Devils would like to have kept more clean sheets.

“Yeah, I think at the moment it’s a case of the team scoring more goals than the opposition,” Giggs said. “We’ve not had too many clean sheets which everyone wants."

“We are top of the league, a bit of daylight in between us and City so we can’t complain but yeah, we’d probably like a lot more clean sheets.”

Giggs also praised West Brom manager Steve Clarke ahead of the Baggies' trip to Old Trafford on Saturday.

“Steve Clarke has done a great job after a few assistant managers’ jobs. He’s took control of the team and he has took it on to that next level," he continued. “Every season you have a team who surprises people and West Brom could be that this year.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger: Loan for Red Bulls' Henry uncertain, but Arsenal has not lost interest

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that he still retains an interest in a loan move for striker Thierry Henry but is unsure over whether one will materialize.


The iconic French forward returned to the club where he scored 226 goals over an eight-year period on a short-team deal last season, famously netting the winner in an FA Cup clash with Leeds United and league goals against Blackburn and Sunderland.

Wenger has admitted that he has not yet ruled out a third Gunners stint for Henry, with the 35-year-old's current club, the New York Red Bulls, currently out of action during the MLS offseason. Henry has been training with Arsenal during the Red Bulls' break but is not an active player for the club.

"I've not lost interest in him," Wenger told reporters. "I've not completely [ruled it out]. But I haven't spoken about it with him at all. He's still coming today to practice with us. We are very close, but at the moment I think he has had a second spell at the club that was very successful. You have to be cautious that it's not one time too many."

Red Bulls officials have maintained that Arsenal has yet to contact the club about a potential Henry loan, something that Red Bulls sporting director Andy Roxburgh seemed opposed to in comments made last month.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Cuellar compares Chicharito to Spanish legend Raul

Sunderland's Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar has compared Manchester United forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez to former Real Madrid legend Raul, citing his prolific strike record this season at crucial junctures.

The former Chivas striker is averaging a goal every 85 minutes in the Premier League this season, a mark superior to such luminaries as teammate Robin van Persie (a goal every 119 minutes), Swansea City's Michu (every 120 minutes), and Newcastle United's Demba Ba (every 143 minutes).

"He's smart, moves very well in the area," the former Rangers and Aston Villa man told El Pais. "In this sense he is like Raul. He gets all rebounds and known to be in the right place."

Cuellar did not get to see Chicharito's exploits first-hand, as the Mexican forward was an unused substitute in United's 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Dec. 15. Chicharito has managed 10 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions, though, including the game-winner in United's riveting 4-3, come-from-behind victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day.

"He is the main protaganist in United's comebacks," Cuellar said. "Fans admire him a lot. Ferguson has said more than once that it hurts/pains him to not start him more often."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Messi used to be so small I didn't think he could make it, says former agent

Horacio Gaggioli, who acted as Lionel Messi's agent until 2005, has stated that he did not think much of the Barcelona attacker's chances to become a top player when he first saw him.



The representative revealed that his first impression of the Argentine did not give him much confidence, but was happy that the Ballon d'Or holder managed to prove him wrong and become one of the best footballers in the history of the game.


"When I saw Leo get off the plane I was left with my mouth open. I thought I was in trouble for doing all this for a boy who was so short and thin," Gaggioli told XL Semenal.

He added, "Some associates of mine saw Leo in Argentina when he was an 11-year-old. They said he was very good and I wanted him to come to Spain.

"However, I had to find a team with very specific characteristics, a city where he could continue his hormone growth treatment, which was expensive."

Meanwhile, veteran Juan Sebastian Veron shared a story of the only time he saw Messi uneasy and uncomfortable.

"I only saw him nervous once, and that was before the Greece game when [Diego] Maradona offered him the captaincy," Veron recalled to the publication.
"It was the responsibility of the leadership that made him uncomfortable, as he realized he had to give a speech to his teammates."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter's Stramaccioni open to reinstating Sneijder to the first team

Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni has revealed that he is open to the possibility of reinstating Wesley Sneijder to the first team.




The Netherlands international has been frozen out of the squad following a contractual dispute with the club, and he was largely expected to leave the Nerazzurri in the upcoming transfer window.

However, Stramaccioni has left the door open for Sneijder to return to the first-team, should the off-field issue is settled soon.

"Sneijder? I'm sure I will change my mind about him. The shirt is ready for him," the coach told Sportmediaset.

Stramaccioni then went on to reflect on a momentous 2012 in which he promoted from a Primavera coach to the successor of Claudio Ranieri at Inter.
"2012 changed my life. It was a great year. For 2013 I want to give [President Massimo] Moratti a gift," he stated.

"I think the year's been a seven on the scale of 1 to 10. We've done well overall, and we are challenging for trophies. We can give birth to a major project."
Inter currently sits fourth in Serie A, nine points behind table-toppers and title holders Juventus.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Meireles ban reduced to four matches

Fenerbahce's Raul Meireles has had his ban reduced to four matches by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).

The 29-year-old Portuguese midfielder was handed an initial 11-game suspension after he was accused of spitting in the face of the referee following his red card in the 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray. Following an appeal by the player, the TFF ruled that it was "physically impossible" for Meireles to have spat at the official while berating him for the decision as the former Chelsea midfielder was constantly talking during the episode.


Meireles, who had strongly denied the charge, was pleased to have seen the ban reduced.

"Justice is done. They blamed me for a thing that I didn't do. I would never spit on a referee," Meireles said in a statement on the Portuguese FA's website.

Galatasaray, meanwhile, has condemned the decision by the court of arbitration, branding it "a disgrace for Turkish football" in a statement released on its official website.

"By reducing Raul Meireles' ban to four games, the committee has basically snubbed the obvious evidence," the statement read. "This reduction which came despite the referee's actual report is a big blow, not only for the sense of community, but also for refereeing itself. The Turkish FA has once again cast a slur on the reputation of Turkish football."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League 2012.12.29 Fixtuures

Barclays Premier League 2012.12.29 Fixtuures

Sunderland Vs Tottenham

Manchester United Vs WBA

Fulham Vs Swansea

Aston Villa Vs Wigan

Stroke City Vs Southmapton

Reading Vs West Ham United

Norwich City Vs Manchester City

Arsenal Vs Newcastle United

​

 

[Banks PLK]

Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City: Adam Johnson hits winner to punish former club




aparade now 7 points gap widen
also other clubs closing

 

[Banks PLK]

Barclays Premier League 2012.12.29 Fixtuures

Norwich City Vs Manchester City

​

Hope we get back to winning ways from this!

 

[Banks PLK]

"When I saw Leo get off the plane I was left with my mouth open. I thought I was in trouble for doing all this for a boy who was so short and thin," Gaggioli told XL Semenal.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham: Visitors fight back in second-half to secure win over Black Cats

A second-half own-goal from Carlos Cuellar and a wonderful strike from Aaron Lennon cancelled out a John O’Shea opener to earn all three points for Tottenham over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in a 2-1 win.

It was a thoroughly deserved win for Andre Villas-Boas’ team and further enhanced their claims for a Champions League qualification spot as they defeated a largely mediocre Black Cats side.

The hosts made one enforced change from their Boxing Day win over Manchester City, with O’Shea replacing left back Danny Rose, who was ineligible against his former club, while Spurs made a change to their central defensive pair, with Steven Caulker and Michael Dawson coming in for Jan Vertonghen and William Gallas.

The opening 20 minutes on Wearside was a tight and cagey affair, with neither side able to stamp a footprint on the game, however as the half wore on it was the visitors who began to dominate proceedings.

And after half an hour they came within inches of getting the opening goal as Jermain Defoe found space on the left-side of the penalty area and curled a shot towards the far post which was not properly cleared by defender Carlos Cuellar and Emmanuel Adebayor pounced, only to see his shot cannon back off the crossbar from little more than four yards out.

The visitors kept up a sustained period of pressure, creating several half-chances, so when the first goal came, it did so very much against the run of play.

Sebastien Larsson whipped in a devilish free-kick from the left which found Steven Fletcher at the near post and he got the better of several Spurs defenders and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to flick the ball into the path of a totally unmarked O’Shea who rolled the ball into the empty net to give his side a somewhat undeserved lead.

That was the last chance of the half, but just three minutes into the second Tottenham grabbed a well-deserved leveler.

Kyle Walker took an in-swinging corner from the left which would have been met by the head of Gareth Bale, but before it reached the Welshman it deflected into the net off the head of Cuellar after he collided with team-mate Craig Gardner.

And just two minutes later the comeback was complete, as Lennon scored an outstanding goal to edge the visitors in front.

The England winger picked up the ball just outside the penalty area and nudged the ball into space before speeding around a static O’Shea to expertly finish past a helpless Simon Mingolet.

It was the outstanding moment of quality in the game, and gave Spurs the lead their play up until that point merited.

And 10 minutes later Tottenham had a great chance to put the game beyond doubt as Gareth Bale picked up the ball inside his own half and drove the ball forward down the left before squaring for an unmarked Defoe who from four yards out was denied by a stunning save by Mingolet - although the England striker will know he should have done better.

Sunderland were struggling to get themselves back into the game, and Migolet was forced once again to save his side when he denied Adebayor with 10 minutes left.

The final minutes failed to produce any outstanding chances, and Spurs held-on to record a second-consecutive away win.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Norwich City 3-4 Manchester City: Dzeko double enough for champions in end-of-year cracker

Manchester City ended 2012 with three points after beating Norwich City 4-3 at Carrow Road in a fantastically entertaining encounter.

City raced into a two-goal lead thanks to two early Edin Dzeko strikes, but Anthony Pilkington pulled one back before Sergio Aguero got the Blues’ third before halftime.

Samir Nasri received a straight red card and Russell Martin got Norwich’s second, and later got a second of his own after Mark Bunn put the ball into his own goal and ensured that City got the three points.Roberto Mancini was understandably annoyed with his side’s performance against Sunderland, with four players suffering in particular. Kolo Toure James Milner, Javi Garcia and Carlos Tevez were all dropped to the bench as Gael Clichy, Gareth Barry, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko replaced them.

Last season, Norwich lost 5-1 and 6-1 at the hands of Mancini’s side and from the first five minutes it looked like it would be a similar scoreline. In just the second minute Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko combined well down the right before floating the ball over to the left for David Silva, who in turn cushioned it into the area and the Bosnian fired it past Mark Bunn for the opener.

Norwich looked a bit stunned and was even further behind after the visitors’ very next attack. Vincent Kompany powered through the middle, riding a challenge from Bradley Johnson before picking out Aguero, who took his time and picked out Dzeko, who doubled his tally.

After Mancini’s side’s impressive start, the match threatened to calm down, but Norwich had other ideas. Robert Snodgrass’ mazy run resulted in a controversial free kick on the edge of the area, and thanks to a deflection from the wall, Anthony Pilkington’s low effort beat Joe Hart.

Despite the Norwich goal, the champions continued to dominate and almost got a third through Yaya Toure before things turned sour right at the end of the first period. Samir Nasri reacted angrily to a strong challenge from Sebastien Bassong and received a straight red card after going nose to nose with the Cameroonian.
After halftime, City soon had its third of the day thanks to Sergio Aguero. Toure played a great pass over the Norwich defense, but Bassong failed to deal with it and the Argentine forward delightfully lofted it over Bunn and into the net.

It did not take long for Norwich to hit back, however, and the Canaries did so through a well-worked corner. After the corner was taken short, Robert Snodgrass produced an excellent cross that Bassong headed back across goal for Martin to head into the top corner.

In keeping with the match, City soon restored the two-goal cushion. Another long ball was played over the Norwich defense and after bringing it down with his chest, Dzeko fired the ball on to the post, and it bounced back on to Bunn and went over the line.The match wasn't getting any less ridiculous and Norwich grabbed a third with just over 15 minutes to go. Joe Hart failed to collect a Norwich corner and after an ensuing melee, Martin knocked the ball in for his second goal of the match.

Both sides pressed in the final minutes as Aguero had two very good efforts saved by Bunn, but the champions managed to hold on for the three points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Fulham 1-2 Swansea City: Graham and De Guzman on target for visitors

Swansea held on despite a late barrage of pressure from Fulham to clinch a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon during an entertaining end-to-end encounter.

The visitors went ahead after Danny Graham's bicycle kick nestled in the bottom right-hand corner after some good work down the right from Angel Rangel and Nathan Dyer after some sloppy goalkeeping from David Stockdale.

Swansea doubled its lead after the interval with Jonathan De Guzman passing into the net from outside the box after Pablo Hernandez picked up the ball after a woeful clearance from Stockdale, before Bryan Ruiz prodded home after a goalmouth scramble shortly afterwards.

Fulham manager Martin Jol made six changes to the side that drew with Southampton on Boxing Day, with Stockdale, Brede Hangeland, Matthew Briggs, Giorgos Karagounis, Kerim Frei and Bryan Ruiz all called into the starting lineup.

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup also rang the changes from the team's last game, away at Reading, making seven with Gerhard Tremmel, Pablo Hernandez, Garry Monk, Angel Rangel, Kemy Agustien, Jonathan De Guzman and Graham all coming in, and the Premier League's current top goalscorer Michu missing out with an ankle injury.

After a lively opening from both sides, it was Swansea which grabbed the first goal in the 18th minute through Graham, after Stockdale palmed out Dyer's tame effort before the forward acrobatically turned the ball home.

The hosts almost responded immediately, with Frei flashing a vicious strike right across goal after collecting Sascha Riether's cross from the right, before the impressive Ruiz brought a smart stop out of Tremmel after trying to curl an effort into the far corner from outside the box.

After the break, Ruiz went close once again with a free kick from the edge of the area which just clipped the post on its way out of play.

Swansea raced into a two-goal lead in the 52nd minute through De Guzman after yet another Stockdale howler, with his poor clearance hitting Hangeland before Hernandez latched on to the loose ball and squaring it to De Guzman to coolly slot home.

Fulham grabbed a goal back to get itself back into the game in the 55th minute with Ruiz the scorer after a goalmouth scramble ensued after a Berbatov header was tipped onto the bar before the Costa Rica international tapped in unmarked in the six yard box, despite suspicions that Riether may have got a touch on it from an offside position before it went in.

With the game becoming increasingly open, Frei tested Tremmel with a sweetly-hit volley from outside the area, with Berbatov seeing a goal correctly disallowed for offside after Tremmel parried Karagounis' effort from distance.

Despite Swansea struggling to clear its lines during a nervy close to the game, Fulham failed to create any genuine clear-cut opportunities and the visitors went on to claim all three points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Reading 1-0 West Ham: Early Pogrebnyak strike enough for priceless win

READING, England -- Reading recorded three vital points in a narrow 1-0 win at the Madejski Stadium against West Ham, aiding the club's search to escape a Premier League relegation scrap.

James Collins' scuffed pass back allowed Pavel Pogrebnyak to give the hosts the lead early on, but the game failed to take off for the remainder of the first period. Things were much the same after the break, with the Hammers unable to find an answer and the home side holding on.

Both sides were unchanged from their respecting Boxing Day clashes, Pogrebnyak continuing as the lone striker for Reading while Carton Cole was available for the visitors after the red card received against Everton was rescinded. The Hammers also welcomed Ricardo Vaz Te back with a place on the bench.

Just five minutes into the game Hammers' defender Collins was caught red-faced when he tried to simply knock the ball back to Jussi Jaaskelainen. However, he ended up assisting Royals' forward Pogrebnyak with a terrible error, his back-pass hitting his other foot before playing the Russian in for a simple finish.

The Hammers managed to get a bit of a foothold in the game thereafter and conjured up a decent chance when Kevin Nolan crossed from the left, Winston Reid's header denied only by a fantastic reflex save by Adam Federici.

However, the clash then became very scrappy with niggling fouls and misplaced passes taking over and, in part due to the quality of Reading's defending, there were no other real chances of note before the break.

The second half began much like the first ended, with neither side able to cut through the other's defense. Cole had a half-chance for the visitors but but his header flew over, while the lively Matthew Jarvis had a strike blocked by Alex Pearce.

With the Hammers looking slightly the better side, and almost pulling one back through substitute Jack Collison, the Royals then nearly doubled their lead through Jem Karacan, the midfielder slamming an effort against the crossbar before Jimmy Kebe's follow up went wide.

Despite some minor pressure late on, and Vaz Te missing an open goal with a free header from all of six yards, McDermott's men proceeded to hold on to the vital win that will give them a much-needed boost in the race for survival.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Stoke City 3-3 Southampton: Late Jerome stunner saves point for Potters

Camerone Jerome hit a stunning last minute equalizer to preserve Stoke's unbeaten Premier League run as the Potters drew 3-3 with a steely Southampton side on Saturday.

First-half goals from the instrumental Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and an Andy Wilkinson own goal were cancelled out by return strikes from Kenwyne Jones, Matthew Upson and Jerome, while Stephen N’Zonzi saw red in the second half.

Tony Pulis was able to name nine of the eleven that beat Liverpool on Boxing Day, with Upson and Ryan Shotton standing in for the suspended Ryan Shawcross and Geoff Cameron.

The Saints, meanwhile, were still without skipper Adam Lallana – who hasn’t featured since December 8th, but welcomed Rodriguez and Guly Do Prado into the starting lineup.

And it was Do Prado who made an early impact, delivering a far post ball into the danger area on 10 minutes, with Lambert on hand to silence the Britannia faithful and smash home his eighth of the season.

It did not take long for the Potters to hit back, however, as Jones - who first contrived to fire over from only yards out - quickly made amends on 16 minutes after expertly back-heeling the ball between Jos Hooiveld’s legs and past Kelvin Davis.

The finish was a thing of beauty. But one moment of magic proved insufficient, and the visitors duly responded.

First, Lambert whipped in a dangerous cross that forced Robert Huth into a mishit clearance on 24 minutes.

The ball rattled the crossbar, Asmir Begovic was nowhere to be seen and Rodriguez had the world at his feet, duly slotting home into an empty net from two yards out.

And, on 36 minutes, Stoke’s defensive nightmares deepened. A simple Jason Puncheon cross from deep entered the box and was headed down by Lambert, before Andy Wilkinson sent the ball into his own net.

Suddenly, the absences of Cameron and Shawcross at the back looked telling for the Potters. This was no longer a case of back and forth; this was becoming a commanding performance from the visitors – and the ever-present Lambert in particular.

But Stoke came at the visitors with everything it had after the break and was rewarded on 65 minutes when Upson slotted home from inside the box after a corner to prove an unlikely scorer.

The goal lifted the energy levels of the home players and doubled the noise levels of the home fans. It was game on.

The excitement seemed too much for some, namely N’Zonzi, who lashed out with a poor challenge on Jack Cork right in front of the referee and was shown a straight red after 70 minutes.

But in the 90thminute, the hosts’ patience and persistence paid off. Second-half substitute Peter Crouch knocked the ball down on the edge of the area and there was Jerome to strike a thunderous volley into the top corner from range, ensuring Stoke is still unbeaten at home after 17 games.
What a way to finish 2012.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Aston Villa 0-3 Wigan: Martinez’s men heap further misery on struggling Lambert

Ivan Ramis, Emmerson Boyce and Arouna Koné piled on the pressure on Paul Lambert as they lead Wigan to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa. It was the Villians third consecutive heavy defeat.

The Villains endured a horrendous opening when Ivan Ramis headed in unmarked from a corner, and almost gave away a penalty moments later, but looked to be recovering their confidence shortly before half time.

Wigan however took advantage of Villa’s swashbuckling opening to the second half, and Emmerson Boyce finished a quick move that caught Villa offguard with a sweeping finish, and minutes later Arouna Kone added a third after lax defending.

Lambert changed formation and attempted to restore some morale for the rest of the match, but many supporters had left the ground before the final whistle concluded a worrying performance.

Aston Villa’s young side had gone into the game following two heavy defeats and Paul Lambert responded with an attack-minded 3-5-2 naming Stephen Ireland, Barry Bannan and Brett Holman in midfield. Wigan however looked boosted by the return of Ivan Ramis at center back and forced the home side to endure a harrowing opening at Villa Park.

After just two minutes right back Matt Lowton was lucky not to give away a penalty after putting his hand to a long ball towards Franco Di Santo. Justice was served from the resulting corner as Jean Beausejour’s floated delivery found the unmarked Ivan Ramis on the edge of the six yard box for the Spaniard to head the ball past Brad Guzan and take advantage of poor marking from Christian Benteke.

Villa looked shaken by the concession and the Latics looked as though they might overwhelm their inexperienced opponents for the opening half hour, in which the home side struggled to keep the ball and were restricted to a speculative shot from Andreas Weimann and hopeful long balls towards Christian Benteke.

Shaun Maloney could have won a penalty inside the opening ten minutes when Stephen Ireland failed to track the Scotland international’s run onto Beausejour’s through ball down the left edge of the box, then committed what looked a foul on the edge of the box in attempting to win the ball back. Beausejour found a lot of space on the left flank through the half and teed up Maloney who shot over the bar, while strikers Arouna Kone and Franco Di Santo failed to make the most of good work from their midfield.

Aston Villa grew in confidence however towards the end of the second half, with Lowton and Bennett each contributing from the wings as their midfield began to maintain possession. Benteke had the ball in the back of the net after good work from Brett Holman but the Australia international had earlier found Weimann offside. Maloney was booked for a foul in frustration just before the break, and from the free kick Benteke headed back across goal for Holman to strike the bar from a tight angle.

Aston Villa continued the second half as they left off, with its midfield impressing and together with right back Lowton getting well forward to maintain possession in the Wigan half. Wigan however took the exposed Villains by surprise and extended their lead with a quickly taken throw-in reaching Maloney in the center of the pitch.

The playmaker found Emmerson Boyce who drove towards the box and found Kone before receiving the ball back again on the edge of the box. The right back swept the ball into the bottom-left corner in an excellent finish.

Minutes later Arouna Kone netted a third as Franco Di Santo threaded a through-ball from outside the edge of the box to the Ivorian, who withstood a weak challenge from Lowton before rounding Brad Guzan before rolling the ball into the net. The home fans were visibly angry at the scoreline and could be seen leaving the match.

With his team visibly demoralized and Wigan calmly stroking the ball across the middle of the park, Lambert brought on the more defensively-minded midfielder Karim El-Ahmadi, striker Jordan Bowery winger Marc Albrighton as he moved to a back four. The move saw morale return to the side and brought a surprising lift from the crowd, with Albrighton providing good width and a supply of crosses into a newly crowded box.

Villa remained exposed at the back however and Kone was put through on goal with a long ball from keeper Ali Al-Habsi before losing control of the ball having looked to round Guzan once more. The Ivorian was later ruled offside after taking advantage of Villa’s high line once more. Weimann shot at goal from an angle in the box, while Al-Habsi watched some hopeful long shots fly past his goal, but the home side never looked like netting a consolation goal as Wigan ended its winless run.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!!!

Manchester United 2-0 West Brom: Van Persie stunner caps his perfect 2012

Manchester United saw off a tame West Brom side 2-0 to maintain its seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Gareth McAuley’s poor defensive clearance was diverted past Ben Foster to give the hosts a nine-minute lead, with second-half substitute Robin van Persie wrapping up in the win at the death.

Danny Welbeck replaced Robin van Persie in United’s starting lineup, while Shinji Kagawa returned to action for the first time since October after recovering from a knee injury. The recently recalled loanee midfielder George Thorne was handed only his second-ever league start for West Brom in one of seven changes by Steve Clarke.

With United conceding the first goal in 11 of its 19 Premier League games this season, Sir Alex Ferguson would have been relieved to be afforded a helping hand after just nine minutes when McAuley diverted Ashley Young’s dive across goal through the legs of his own goalkeeper to give the league leaders an early lead.

The hosts were dominating proceedings, with the own goal only serving to add further confidence to a slick first-half display.However, Sir Alex has often bemoaned his side’s inability to convert scoring opportunities, and was proven right to urge caution after seeing Manchester City win the title on goal difference last season, and will have been cursing his side’s luck after seeing his side’s twice thwarted when in good positions.

First, Foster showed great reactions to tip Young’s fierce drive from 16 yards onto the crossbar and away before, from the resulting corner, Michael Carrick his side-footed shot towards the far bottom corner punted off the line with the goalkeeper beaten to keep the deficit down to just one goal at the halftime break.

West Brom started the second period with a renewed passion after a largely anonymous opening 45 minutes, with Chris Brunt combining well with Shane Long and Billy Jones before test David de Gea from 30 yards within the opening five minutes.

Graham Dorrans then went close attempting to advantage of panic in the United area following a badly defended free kick from deep, but Nemanja Vidic threw his body in the way of the ball to divert the danger.United was evidently getting nervous, and retreating from their thoroughly attack-minded first-half display, while away side were cautious to pile too many forward and leave themselves vulnerable on the counterattack.

This hesitance resulted in sporadic chances in a less-vibrant second half for the home side then than showing before the break, as the visitors grew in confidence.
McAuley nearly made amends for his own goal when he out-jumped Chris Smalling to power a header onto the United crossbar, only for the referee to penalize the 33-year-old for a foul on the defender.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, substitute Van Persie was denied by Foster to cut the result beyond doubt for his side, the Dutchman only able to find the goalkeeper’s legs after Patrice Evra played him behind the West Brom defense.

But Van Persie did grab his almost customary goal in the 90th minute, picking up the ball on the edge of the area after a United corner was header away and curling it with ease past the impressive Foster to seal the win.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!!!

Congratulations Manchester United!

RVP ge goal 1kanam Patta!

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle: Walcott and Giroud help Gunners end the year on a high

Theo Walcott staked his claim for a new contract with a stunning hat trick as Arsenal beat Newcastle in a breathtaking 7-3 thriller at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners took the lead four times during a chaotic match before eventually seeing off the spirited visitors as Walcott made the difference with a finishing masterclass in his preferred role as a central striker. Attention will now turn to whether the Gunners can keep the 23-year-old at the club, with his contract set to expire in the summer and no sign of a breakthrough in talks over a new deal.

Walcott had opened the scoring with a classy finish in the 20th minute but the sides went in level at the break thanks to Demba Ba’s deflected free kick two minutes before halftime.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain restored Arsenal’s advantage five minutes after the restart before Sylvain Marveaux tapped home a second equalizer just before the hour mark to the frustration and bemusement of the home crowd.

Lukas Podolski put Arsenal back in the lead from close range, yet his strike was quickly canceled out as Ba volleyed home his second of the evening.

Then, in the 73rd minute, Walcott spun in the penalty area to slam the ball into the top corner from 12 yards. This time, there was no way back for Newcastle and substitute Olivier Giroud sealed the points with two late goals.

There was still time for Walcott to complete his hat trick as he danced across the touchline and flicked a delightful finish over Tim Krul to claim the match ball - and give his agent some bargaining power as talks over a new deal continue.

The result lifts Arsenal up to fifth in the Premier League on the back of four wins in a row while Newcastle is on a dismal run having collected just six points from their last 10 matches.

Arsenal came into the game on the back of three league wins in a row and with four days more rest than Newcastle after its Boxing Day clash with West Ham was called off. Arsene Wenger made just one change to the team that beat Wigan, with Laurent Koscielny replacing Per Mertesacker, while Chieck Tiote and Gabriel Obertan came in for Newcastle.

In a a cagey, one-paced opening period, it was Walcott who provided the spark and energy in Arsenal’s play. As his contract stand-off continues heading into the January transfer window, the England international was again selected in his preferred central role - and he made his point to Wenger with the opening goal in the 20th minute.

It was a goal reminiscent of Thierry Henry in his pomp and the Gunners legend was leading the applause as he prepares to re-join the club on loan in January.

Podolski placed the ball into space behind the Newcastle back four and Walcott timed his run to beat the offside trap and spring clear down the inside left channel before opening up his body and placing a clean finish into the bottom corner.

Arsenal was struggling to open up the well-organized visitors but Walcott nearly doubled the lead after skipping past Fabio Coloccini but his left-footed shot was smothered by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Newcastle had already served a couple of warnings as to their threat in the final third before Ba leveled the scoreline two minutes before the break with a huge slice of fortune.

Ba struck his free kick with power from 25 yards but Wojciech Szczesny appeared to have it covered before the ball was diverted in via a massive deflection off Jack Wilshere.

Arsenal began the second half with purpose, Krul keeping out Kieran Gibbs from a tight angle before Oxlade-Chamberlain restored the home side’s lead in the 50th minute. The winger was given far too much room by the Newcastle defense as he collected Santi Cazorla’s pass and he fired a low finish into the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area.

Nine minutes later, however, Newcastle was level. Gabriel Obertan danced into the Arsenal penalty area and crossed virtually across the goal line for Marveax to tap home as the Gunners defense fell asleep.

Yet sloppy defending was a theme of the evening and Arsenal was back ahead in the 64th minute. Podolski was the eventual goalscorer but the credit belonged to Wilshere, who stormed into the box and clipped a delightful chip that Newcastle failed to handle, the ball bouncing off the crossbar before falling for the German to nod home.

There was more to come. On 69 minutes, Newcastle drew level for the third time as Gibbs once again got sucked in and Ba volleyed Marveaux’s excellent cross into the near post.

Four minutes later, Walcott was too sharp for the Newcastle defense as he spun in the area and fired high into the top corner from 12 yards.

Six minutes from time, Walcott turned provider as he crossed for Giroud to score with a diving header to relax the home crowd and ensure the victory. Three minutes later, the Frenchman scored his second as he collected the ball in the penalty area and smashed his effort past Krul at the near post.

By now, Arsenal’s appetite for goals was insatiable and Walcott crowned his wonderful individual performance in added time. Now the Gunners must do everything in their power to keep him at the club.