The Round Football Column 03.17.08: 143rd Edition – Premier League and La Liga Round-Up, Plus More
Posted by Tim O'Sullivan on 03.17.2008
Pepe’s own goal makes La Liga’s title race interesting again, Vucinic scores again as Roma beat AC Milan, Fernando Torres is a pimp, plus more. One Click Away.
Yup.
They may have looked like the best team in Europe against AC Milan, but Arsenal are still not good against the sides that get stuck into them. Saturday's draw against Middlesbrough was The Gunners' fourth in a row, in the league. It's simply not good enough at this stage of the season and they've gone from having the title in their own hands to being desperate for a win at Stamford Bridge to keep them in it.
Sagna and Flamini have been very consistent all season, but the form of Hleb, Fabregas and Adebayor has been so erratic. Some weeks they look like world-beaters, and the next it's a different story. Ade in particular has been horrible in the last month. He's all over newspapers, TV and magazines, and I worry the spotlight has gone to his head. He doesn't seem to be working as hard and he's got the first touch of a lamp-post. If all these defenders like Terry, Rio, Nesta and Maldini rave on about how good he is and how tough he is to handle, and his stats are looking decent, it's hard to have a major pop at him..........but the fella still has such a long way to go.
Man Utd took advantage of Arsenal's slip-up and finally went to the top of the league outright. Cristiano Ronaldo's decent finish helped them sneak past a hilariously resilient Derby, and with Bolton at home on Wednesday they really are looking like the safest bet now.
Liverpool's superb form just about continued at home to Reading. Some dude called Matejovsky scored one of the goals of the month early days, but Javier Mascherano's first goal for Liverpool and yet another net-hit from that Torres lad gave Fat Rafa's side another three points. Maybe they could finally do something in a big Prem away game next weekend! Stranger things have happened……..I think.
Chelsea are still in this title race, and it's been a good week for them with a Fatty Lamps-inspired 6-1 win over Derby and a 1-0 win at Sunderland. One of my mate's was at the latter game and said Sunderland deserved something, but he knows nothing about football so I'll assume Chelsea should have won by four or five.
Everton's UEFA Cup hangover was to the benefit of Fulham, who are still clawing on to the Premier League. I doubt they'll survive though.
After resting all his best players for the UEFA Cup, you would think Gary Megson was confident of beating some shit-kickers from Wigan. Evidently, football doesn't work like that and Bolton are now in some serious trouble.
Aston Villa were decent at The Emirates, but a draw against Boro and a defeat at Pompey has quietly put them in a run of form that hasn't seen them win in the league since February 24. Gabby Agbonlahor seems to be off the boil, too.
Someone who is on the money is Jermain Defoe. His goal on Saturday owed large thanks to Scott Carson, but it was still a quality finish and he's really looking a class act under Harry Redknapp.
Dean Ashton showed Alan Curbishley why he should be playing every game for West Ham, but it was Freddie Sears who stole the headlines during The Hammers' 2-1 win over Blackburn. It could be quite fun to see a young English talent emerge in the latter months of the season.
Man City beat Spurs 2-1. Good goal from Keane. Best performance from Elano since October. That is all.
Barclays Premier League – Team of the Weekend
GK - David James (Portsmouth)
RB - Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
LB - Paul Konchesky (Fulham)
CB - David Wheater (Middlesbrough)
CB - John Terry (Chelsea)
CM - George Boateng (Middlesbrough)
CM - Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
RM - Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
LM - Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)
ST - Dean Ashton (West Ham)
ST - Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth)
La Liga took another twist at the weekend, as Real Madrid lost at Deportivo. Pepe's red card against Roma and own goal on Saturday has probably halved his crazy transfer value from last summer.
Not much of a twist though - Barcelona could only draw with Almeria. Cunts!
Sevilla's good form continued with a 2-1 win at Valencia. Both goals came from Luis Fabiano, and he has a real shot at grabbing the European Golden Boot this season. Everyone's searching for Brazil's new No.9, but I think they already have him.
Former Liverpool flop Florent Sinama-Pongolle bagged a brace as Recreativo beat Murcia 4-2.
Daniel "The Geezer" Guiza scored again………but Luis Garcia bagged a double as Espanyol beat Mallorca 2-1.
This goal from the pimp that is Fernando Torres completed the line-up for the final eight:
Here's the draw for the quarters:
ARSENAL v LIVERPOOL
The tie of the round and one that's too tough to call. Liverpool's form, coupled with the second leg being at Anfield may make them slight favourites, but Arsenal will beat anyone on their good days.
FENERBAHCE v CHELSEA
Far more interesting than it looks. Zico really has something interesting going on at Fenerbahce. I see them causing a shock here.
SCHALKE v BARCELONA
No Messi, but no drama here for Barcelona. Best draw they could have bagged.
ROMA v MAN UTD
I love Roma, but Old Trafford in the second leg could be too much for them yet again.
Full preview and staff roundtable next week.
Big game in Serie A last weekend as Roma hosted Meeeeeeeeeeeeelan.
Kaka opened the scoring with a beautiful finish, but Roma fought back for a 2-1 win, including an Eduardo-style finish from in-form striker Mirko Vucinic.
Here's the highlights:
Luis Jimenez showed why he should have started against Liverpool, with the winner in Inter's 2-1 over Palermo.
Little Energie Cottbus beat Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Everton and Tottenham both went out of the UEFA Cup on penalties. Jenas, Chimbonda, Jagielka and The Yak should all be ashamed. In fairness though, there was some superb goalkeeping from Frey and Gomes throughout the tie.
Rangers did go through, despite Diego showing his class in the second leg:
Here's the quarter final draw:
Bayer Leverkusen v FC Zenit St Petersburg
Rangers v Sporting Lisbon
Bayern Munich v Getafe
Fiorentina v PSV
05 – Fabiano's first v Valencia 04 – Sears v Blackburn 03 – Kaka v Roma 02 – Torres v Inter Milan 01 – Matejovsky v Liverpool
Birmingham v Newcastle tonight. That could be hilarious entertainment.
Man Utd should destroy Bolton on Wednesday, but Chelsea's resurgence could halt at White Hart Lane.
Reading v Birmingham and Newcastle v Fulham are big games on Saturday.
Real Madrid will need to bounce back from the loss at Deportivo with a home win against that shit from Valencia.
The weekend's action all revolves around GRAND SLAM SUNDAY though, and neutrals must be thanking SKY for such a gloriously awesome day of Easter footy action.
Man Utd v Liverpool is interesting, because Liverpool are in great form. However, Rafa's record at big away Prem grounds is pathetic and you just don't trust them here, do you?
As for Chelsea v Arsenal, well The Gunners are looking shit, but always pull it out of the bag for the big games, while Chelsea have that insane home record.
If United win and Arsenal draw I genuinely think the title race is over.
Hobbsy was pretty boring last week. The best he had to offer was calling Jeremie Aliadiere a "cock fuck"……whatever that means.
Last Week's Match Predictions (Bold = Prediction ……. Italics = Actual Result)
UEFA Champions League – Second Round, Second Legs
Tuesday 11th
Inter Milan v Liverpool 0-1 // 0-1
Barclays Premier League
Wednesday 12th
Aston Villa v Middlesbrough 3-0 // 1-1
Chelsea v Derby 3-0 // 6-1
Portsmouth v Birmingham 0-1 // 4-2
Saturday 15th
Arsenal v Middlesbrough 2-0 // 1-1
Derby v Man Utd 0-7 // 0-1
Liverpool v Reading 3-0 // 2-1
Portsmouth v Aston Villa 1-1 // 2-0
Sunderland v Chelsea 1-1 // 0-1
West Ham v Blackburn 0-1 // 2-1
Sunday 16th
Fulham v Everton 0-2 // 1-0
Man City v Tottenham 0-1 // 2-1
Wigan v Bolton 2-0 // 1-0
Next Week's Match Predictions
Barclays Premier League
Monday 17th
Birmingham v Newcastle 3-1
Wednesday 19th
Man Utd v Bolton 3-0
Tottenham v Chelsea 1-1
Saturday 22nd
Aston Villa v Sunderland 2-0
Blackburn v Wigan 2-0
Bolton v Man City 1-1
Everton v West Ham 1-1
Middlesbrough v Derby 1-0
Newcastle v Fulham 1-1
Reading v Birmingham 2-1
Tottenham v Portsmouth 1-0
