retired_kimberlysmith

Tottenham Hotspur.....Championship Contenders....Surely Not!

Half way through the season, and the mighty Spurs sit in 4th place of the Premier League, ammounting a 4 point and one game lead over closest challengers Liverpool. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United occupy the top 3 places, just ahead of Spurs, with only a marginal lead of 5 points, that of which can be recouperated over the games that spurs have in hand over United and Chelsea. The best league in the world has thrown up some results this year that have shocked many, but the top three have stormed through without much of a blip against mid and lower table teams. Much of the same can be said of Tottenham, losing only 3 games so far and drawing just the once against a strong Villa side, picking up many points along the way, stretching themselves from their predicted position by bookmakers earlier in the campaign.

Forth place comes at a cost, that being the exhile of many players in the soon to arrive transfer window, enabeling the strengthening of the defence, midfiend and one for the future in attack. Vincent Kompany has agreed a £5m deal with the club, Freddy Guarin has decided to up sticks from DIRTY West Bromwich - signing a deal sending Fredheim Holm in the opposite direction, and the scouting of AC Milan went well, enabeling Spurs to sign George Junior Weah for a minor 300k.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Holm came to me after signing and was extremly pleased to have made a deal with such a big club and such a challenge for the season. I told him it was going to be hard, but the last few months have been anything but! Mid-table West Brom showed some interest, and well, he's off to a challenge, especially that of the language as he was handed an English to Brum dictionary after agreeing terms by myself for his own help. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

As transfers were set aside, the focus was placed on playing, to which the match reports for the autumn and beginning of winter are as follows;

Saturday 11th September

Man City [1]: Macken(43)
Tottenham Hotspur [3]: Defoe(2), Thaim(13), Kanoute (81)

After the dissapointment of the somewhat lubed up injury time winner at Everton a couple of weeks prior, I instructed my men to go out and fight and pull out of the rubble 3 points at the end. That they did, with a fantastic 3-1 win against a subdued City. Defoe caught City half asleep at the back, and nipped in to punish them early on. Pablo Thaim making his second start of the season netted just before the quater of an hour mark with a nice drive just inside the box straight past an outstretched David James. Before the break former Man United youngster Jonathan Macken scored a breathtaking free kick to give Leo's men something to talk about at half time over their Jaffa Cakes and orange juice. The second half was a dissapointing one for City, after having Shearer lose his temper just avoiding a booking after he mistook the Millenium Stadium for his old playschool, and Paul Robinson as the trampoline, and rose like a samon for the ball, which was a clear 20 feet into the air from the corner, smashing it into the net. The goal was of course disalowed by the refaree who had to confront Shearer after his 'paddy' in the penalty area. The match was wrapped up late on as Kanoute slotted home a goal past a lazy James, who didn't even dive after it, just turned and instructed the ball boy 2 get the ball out of the net for him. The only down point about the game was that of the injury recieved to Jermaine Defoe. A Scan later showed a minor neck injury, but was a worry for the team after being shown as their leading man at the start of the game.


Tuesday 21st September

Swansea [0]:
Tottenham Hotspur [2]: Gueret(og68), Holm(80)

The League Cup drew Spurs away to Lee Trundle's Swansea, as the london side crossed the boarder to their first European Away since Wrexham in '85. The reserves were handed a chance to prove themselves, whilst the first team were rested for the away trip to Bolton at the weekend. Swansea held up well until late on, when a spell of Tottenham pressure produced an own goal from Willam Gueret. Fredheim Holm polished of the game with 10 minutes to go, which silenced the Swansea fans, giving many the oppertunity to leave as the gates opened soon after.


Saturday 25th September

Bolton [0]:
Tottenham Hotspur [1]: Defoe(Pen 15)

A very quiet game against David Pagi's side, who put up a brick wall from minute one, almost refusing to attack on a fear of the counter attack that the away side had become famous for this season. Defoe himself was brought down in the area, and slotted it past Jussi J*cough*linen. If you cant beat 'em, join 'em was the half time phrase in the away team dressing room, as the game hardly moved out of the centre circle for the 2nd half. 1-0 Win, was always going to stay like that with the Manager's tactics.


Saturday 2nd October

Tottenham Hotspur[1]: Southgate(45)
Southampton [3]: Crouch(14), Petit(60), Berger(86)

After putting away the sledge hammers from trying to knock down the wall last week at Bolton, Spurs were challenged in a way that i dont even think Southampton were expecting to play. The usual tactics weren't good enough to push Southampton at all, and it showed as their attacking prowess pushed us down further into the ground everytime we moved over the halfway line. Southgate toe-poked a shot in from a corner just after half time, but it was never enough to challenge the Saints. They managed to bag 3 goals in a result that truly flattered their performance, but on the day ultimatly, Spurs weren't good enough and admitted to their first defeat in 4.


Wednesday 6th October

Tottenham Hotspur [2]: Defoe(15), Thaim(21)
Middlesborough [0]:

The exact opposite of the previous weekend took place tonight, and actual good football was being played at White Hart Lane. The two goals in reasonably quick succession proved to kill off Boro', who never really looked like attacking Paul Robinson's net. The game was controlled completly by Spurs, who should've really added a third and possibly forth in the first half before the break. The second half, Boro' really didn't look to fazed about letting Spurs play, and although had spells of possession, they ultimatly had prepared for an onslaught of their goal again, and just played keep ball. Simon Davies back from injury and into the starting line up played out of his skin, makiung quite the impression, and picked up the man of the match trophy after.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> After Wednesday's game, i fell ill with flu, and missed the subsiquent games against Fulham (league), Arsenal (cup) and Crystal Palace (league). Martin Jol took charge for the games proving he may well be ready for management. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Saturday 23rd October

Tottenham Hotspur [2]: Defoe(16), Brown(20)
Fulham [0]:


Wednesday 27th October

Tottenham Hotspur [1]: Kanoute(17)
Arsenal [3]: Reyes(33), Gilberto(65), Henry(90)


Saturday 30th October

Crystal Palace [1]: Ventola(79)
Arsenal [3]: Davies(1), Defoe(36), Holm(90)


Saturday 6th October

Tottenham Hotspur [2]: Kanoute(15,47)
Liverpool [0]:

After recovering from a bout of flu, I took charge of the Liverpool game without many huge expectations. 9th in the league was a good position i was trying to hang on to, and with the inconsistancy in form that the team'd been producing, i couldn't see how i was going to get anything more than a draw out of the game. To my surprise the team responded to my appearance in the dressing room, much like that of a child's expression after seeing their parents after visiting Michael Jackson, extreme delight to be back! I never did question Jol or any of the players on the matter, however that dutch accent does remind me a little of Goldmember....anyway! The game was so fast, it was unbelievable. Liverpool had shots on our goal, and we had shots on theirs, but ours went in and Robinson was having a stormer. The Liverpool team looked stunned after Kanoute scored his second just after the break, and soon settled into a defensive jig, that we were unable to break through. Keeping the ball frustrated the scousers, much to my delight! The final whistle blew and we moved above 'pool, taking 4th spot.


Saturday 20th November

Birmingham [1: Aliadiere(72)
Tottenham Hotspur [3]: Holm(42), Sean Davis(87), McFadden(91)

A Jermaine Defoe injury made me think the worse of the game, as after 25 minutes, he was butchered just inside the Birmingham half. Daniel Fredheim Holm stepped up, put on his shirt and ended up running around the pitch like a grayhound for the next 20 minutes. He was rewarded with his goal just before the break, which slowed him down slightly much to Birmingham's relief. Goals from Davis, deflected 30 yard shot, and McFadden, headed rebound from Kanoute's penalty miss, in the second half wrapped it up for Spurs in the second half, making it 7 wins from 8 league games.


Saturday 27th November

Tottenham Hotspur [2]: Kanoute(37), McFadden(64)
Man Utd [0]:

After scoring in the previous match after his first start of the season, James McFadden did it again, this time against the might of Manchester United. This result really proved Tottenham to be playing up there with the big boys, as the win cemented our place in the top 4. Manchester United pushed at our goal, very much unlike City did, offering a tough challenge for King and Southgate in defence, but they stood strong. A Dubious penalty decision against King on Scholes late on proved to sum up their day. Scholes himself stepped up, but the shot was tipped onto the post by Robinson and cleared by Carrick high into the stand. A truly fantastic result for Tottenham.


Saturday 4th December

Portsmouth [0]:
Tottenham Hotspur [1]: McFadden(88)

Attacking football at it's best with Portsmouth proving a tough cookie to crack for Spurs top men. Mabizela played his first game of the season in place of the suspended Tarrico in defence, impressing me, offering a glimmer of hope of a new deal. A Bid from Aston Villa at half time sealed his fate for January though, dispite his good work. It wasn't until the 88th minute, when a superb bit of attacking football ended up with James McFadden drilling the ball into the back of the net from the centre of the area. Top marks to Pompey, a fine challenge, and a surprise to see them leaning towards the foot of the table.


Wednesday 27th October

Tottenham Hotspur [4]: Sean Davis(8), Carrick(13,56), Defoe(Pen 67)
Blackburn [0]:

Simply not Blackburn's day. A Deflected shot from Davis early on set the tone for the match, with a cruel goal against Blackburn, who were under the attacking motions of Spurs since the kick off. Michael Carrick burst through the midfield, wrestling off Pederson and after a Simon Davies cross, headed in a corker of a ball. The wait for the next goal was until the 56th minute, but was well worth the wait, as Carrick added to his tally, blasting one in from well outside the area, beating a full stretched Friedel into the roof of the net. Blackburn fans applauded the players effort, seeing through the dissapointment that their defenders were offering as he sprinted through the park. The day was topped off for the away side after Neill tripped Defoe in the 66th minute, and he poked it away bottom corner oozing coolness and confidence. 4-0 Loss for Blackburn, putting them in 17th place, and giving a good chance for them to be caught up in the relegation battle going on.


The form guide doesn't lie, with Spurs in 2nd place with 6 of their last league games being victory's only matched by Arsenal. With 37 points in the bag, and a number of games in hand, Spurs look to have a real chance of pushing for Champions League football this season, possibly even pushing for the league title. Who would've predicted that 4 months ago when i took charge.....certainly not a Mr Niall Murphy?

retired_sankanyo

At last the GOAT arrives but is it too late to save Portsmouth from the drop?

Well first I will update you on how the club was doing before I joined the club on 28/8/04.

Transfers In

Harper 1mNewcastle
Elliot 500kNewcastle
Parlour 750kMiddlesbrough

Well as you can see the ex manager wasted all the transfer funds on crap so lets see who he sold to make up for it.

Transfers out
Berger700kSouthampton
Buxton500kNewcastle

Things get from bad to worse when I see one of my only class players have gone to our local rivals for less than 1m. Then there’s Buxton who is oozing potential but Redknapp sells him to Newcastle for hardly anything compared to what he will be worth in a few seasons.

With the club in financial difficulties and a squad with only three decent/good players I had to sell and these were the ones in the firing range

Yakubu 6m (good player but need the money)
Faye3m (same as Yakubu)
Harper500k (got half of what Redknapp paid but not bad considering how talent less harper is)
Duffy500k(decent youngster who is not needed)
Unsworth450k(decent left back but he’s old, on high wages and I have Taylor who is better)
Quashie300k(decent amount of cash for a player who is not good enough for top flight football)
Elliot100k(another recent buy going out the door. Crap and highly paid)
Curtis100k(not even fit for my reserves)
Stone55k(don’t think I have to explain selling him lol)


With only 2 days left before the transfer window closed I had to make a few rushed deals (well 1 since no one would join me)

Soetaers800k(didn’t have 1 left winger in my team so just needed to buy what I could find)
Oakleyloan(what a bargain, hes now joining us fulltime in Jan for 850k)

With selling a lot of first team players and not being able to bring anyone in I knew it was going to be a struggle until January when I will finally have some replacements.
Redknapp had started the season poorly with 7 games played, 2 wins and 5 defeats leading me too believe it was going to be even harder for me since I basically have to play reserves.


League Cup 2nd round
Portsmouth 2-0 Oxford
Total domination with Oakley having the perfect debut receiving the MOTM award with a match rating of 9. Kamara and Parlour also showed that there a class above the rest of a below average Portsmouth team.


Palace 1-0 Portsmouth
Palace were yet to pick up a single point but guess what happened here? Yes that’s right they take the whole 3 points winning 1-0 thanks to there keeper playing an 8 and my strikers not being able to hit the target from 3 yards. Kamara was MOTM with a rating of 9, if only he could of taking 1 of his many chances. Ventola predictably was the scorer as he scores against me all the time, just like Pinga used too (remember him Niall ).


Portsmouth 1-1 Liverpool
Kamara early on made it 1-0 and once again stole the show picking up the MOTM award. Liverpool dominated the second half though and equalised thanks to cisse, after that not much happened.


Birmingham 1-0 Portsmouth
Another 1-0 defeat away and this time it was against Birmingham who did deserve the points so cant have any complaints in this one apart from us being ABSOLUTELY AWFUL! Parlour and LuaLua were injured though which doesn’t help when the rest of your team are reserve players.


Portsmouth 0-1Man United
After the abysmal performance in the last game the boys came out for this one and boy did they play well. Well apart from cisse who was sent off inside the first 30 mins sending us down to 10 men for over an hour against one of the best teams in the league. We played so well and easily deserved a point atleast but Nistelrooy scored there only shot on target .


League Cup 3rd round
Portsmouth 2-0 Reading
Kamara started were he left off in the last game with another MOTM performance with a rating of 10 and this time he even scored. Ok so it was a penalty and it was against Reading but they all count don’t they.

Norwich 3-0 Portsmouth
Our luck goes from bad to even worse as we dominate this game but just cant score then Norwich have 3 shots and score them all thanks to the piece of crap that is Hislop . Still haven’t scored away from Fratton Park and only scored 1 in 5 which is abysmal.

Blackburn 0-2 Portsmouth
SHOCKING NEWS
Portsmouth score on a different ground other than fratton and more importantly pick up there first win since god knows how long. Oh and they kept a clean sheet.
Parlour (our only decent player other than Kamara and Oakley) stole the show scoring twice and of course receiving the MOTM award. Kamara and Oakley both played a 9 too in our first dominating win away from home, in fact its my first win at all.

Portsmouth 0-1 Newcastle
In came Jay’s Newcastle full of world class stars but somehow struggling in the league. It was a very even game with both teams having 9 shots with 3 on target, both teams went down to 10 men early on and the magpies also had 7 bookings but most importantly Newcastle were the team that scored after Shaka ‘Crappy’ Hislop gave the ball straight to Van Bommel who couldn’t miss.


League Cup 4th round
Portsmouth 1-2 Everton
All the hype was around this match (even though its only the league cup) with the two most successful managers in EPL history facing off for the first time with there new clubs. Who was going to score? Who was going to win? Most importantly of all who was going to have the bragging rights of knocking the other out of the cup?
Well the first half was ALL Everton and they finally took one of there chances right at the end of the first half even though Stefanovic should of blocked it on the line. Nothing much happened for the first 25mins of the second half untill I changed tactics and then we totally dominated hitting the post and having chance after chance after chance…. But they all were falling to Lua-Lua who is the worst finisher anyone has ever seen. Finally we scored when Kamara hit a screamer from the edge of the box.

In extra time we started were we left off dominating but still missing chances, we have now had 20 shots in the last 30mins which atleast 8 were 1 on 1s with Wright but he was just too good playing a 10. Then all of a sudden Cisse lost the plot and got himself a red card, soon after Everton sored on the counter and that was the end of our league cup dreams.
Great game with 40+ shots but Murphy’s good luck (now becoming a trademark of his) and my bad luck is what separated the two teams.

With the transfer window coming up I guarantee that the second half of the season will be much brighter for Pompey.

retired_punk_and_roses

The end finally comes

After a false dawn against Everton and some fighting talk, Manager JDC’s Newcastle reign came to a very limp end!

Having spent nearly £40m and having 3 of the seasons biggest signings he lost the dressing room before xmas (help if he had a map of the ground perhaps), the final straw coming in Newcastle’s exit in the 4th round of the League Cup.

JDC tonight resigned and retired from football.

The results that brought his short but expensive reign to an end;

0-0 Charlton
2-0 Everton
0-1 Aston villa
0-1 Man city
0-2 Middlesbrough
0-3 Bolton
2-0 Dinpro
1-2 Arsenal
1-0 Dinpro
0-1 Fulham
0-1 Southampton
3-1 Wil
0-1 Liverpool
2-0 Wolves
1-2 Birmingham
3-1 Palace
0-1 Man u
2-1 Middlesbrough
2 1 Wolfburg
0 2 Blackburn
0 3 Auxerre
1 1 Norwich
2 3 Liverpool
0 1 Legia
0-2 Tottenham

Having left Newcastle with a tear in his eye and with Newcastle second bottom in the league, JDC headed home north west towards Blackpool, lets hope he gets home safe and doesn’t jump off the tower….

retired_hollieo

Thanks for playing Jay, better luck next time.

All of which opens up a manger vacancy, see our forums if you wish to be considered for a club, which won't be Newcastle who are now closed.

retired_teresa assis

5 more games to catch up on:

Boro 0-0 Liverpool

Boring boring Liverpool, they came and parked the team coach infront of the goal, didn't have one highlight. 2 points dropped for Boro.

Boro 0-2 Birmingscum

2 strikes from Forsell (20, 52) sent Villa fan Liggins home feeling sick

Man Utd 2-2 Boro

After the disappointment of taking just 1 point from the 2 previous games, which had both been at home, the side travelled to Mold Trafford without a great deal of hope. Liggins had learned from his trip to Highbury and chose a more conservative formation, and it looked to be working; Downing played through Hasselbaink who finished in his normal clinical manner (16). 28 minutes in and the first moment of controversy; as Rooney fell over after the Swedish colossus Mellberg breathed on him, referee Dermot Gallagher unbelievably gave a penalty. Justice was done however, as Schwarzer saved Saha's tame effort. United were level soon after when the fat cheating thug Rooney slotted passed the Boro keeper (34) to send the teams in level at the half time break.
The 2nd half started with United pressure, but it took (yet another) sliced Schwarzer clearance for United to take the lead, Shrek grabbing his second (57). With 10 minutes to go, Boro threw caution to the wind, Christie replacing Downing. 4 minutes were left on the clock when Yakin's through ball found Christie, who finished beautifully from 30 yards. An undeserved but thoroughly pleasing point.

Boro 1-0 Portsmouth

A very convincing win, which was greeted at full time by the claims from opposition manager Andy nielsen that Boro were "the best side he's faced this season." Hasselbaink (27) grabbed the only goal in a game where Portsmouth, fielding multiple new signings, didn't get a kick. In fact the only thing they did kick was the opposition, Butt being stretchered off injured, and 5 different Portsmouth players being booked, but they showed all the committment needed to stay in the league.

Blackburn 1-1 Boro

Thankfully the last game of the hectic January schedule, but yet another disappointing result. Boro were the better side throughout but fell behind to a Paul Dickov goal (24), and had to wait until the 60th minute before parity was restored, Hasselbaink curling home a delightful free kick. Boro had chances to win but couldn't find the elusive goal.
The main talking point though was the tactics employed by the dirty northeners. Even in the absence of manager Boult, Blackburn repeated the tactics of earlier in the season, which saw 3 Boro players stretchered off in the correspondin fixture. They infact improved on that tally, forcing Boro into 3 changes before half time, then kicking Yakin out of the game for the final 30 minutes. The FA really need to look into these thuggish tactics.


The team remain in 10th place: after going through the first 17 league games without a draw, 4 have now come in the last 6 games. This has led to the team slipping away from the top 8, a few wins on the bounce are needed if that gap is to be made up. Next up is Coventry at home in the cup, a chance to rest some players after the exhausting recent schedule.

Some transfer activity a the re-opening of the transfer window:

Out

Patrice Luzi for £550k to Strasbourg.

He only lasted 4 months, but proved in that time what a clown he was. He was sold on though for a cool £500k profit.

In

Micheal Rensing for £950k from Bayern Munich.

Hopefully this should see an end to my goalie crisis. I don't care what the stats say, Schwarzer has definetelyNOT been the 9th best player in the league so far this season. Rensing looks far better a player, and will make his debut in the cup at the weekend, and I see him taking the number one slot by the end of the season without too much trouble.

Plenty of Bosman signings are being attempted, with the rumour mill going into overdrive. Of course, you'll all be the first to know if any more transfers go through

Up the Boro!

retired_hollieo

4 more matches last night as the crazy Xmas schedule hits the squad hard.

Everton 2 - 0 Portsmouth

Well my old mate Andy Nilsen was really struggling to put a side out, only able to put three subs on the bench. As always, both managers were keen to come out on top at this early stage, whilst busy trying to put together a squad capable of future success.

After a 2-0 victory for Everton, which was richly deserved, Nilsen again bemoaned his luck, but at the end of the day Maciej Zurawski was just too damn good for the Pompey defence, burying two fantastic headers.

I left with the impression that Pompey look relegation fodder in this game, but with Everton not too far in front, both managers are aware we could possibly slip through the trapdoor.


Everton 0 - 0 Blackburn

In Rick Boult's absence, Blackburn continued their policy of parking five men across the midfield and relying on Brad Friedel's excellence to stop the other team. It worked, two points dropped.


Newcastle 3 - 0 Everton

Well I have suffered the embarrasing scenario of seeing strugglers Newcastle doing the double over my side.

Keegan had certainly fired his side up for this one as the Geordies attempt to unravel the mess left by DaCosta's tenure. With Murphy unwittingingly telling his side to play offside - we quickly paid for it as Crespo and Kluivert finished lethally to end Newcastle's run of ten games without scoring at St James' Park.

Everton 1 - 3 West Bromwhich Albion

The pre-game news was grim, especially as Murphy was forced to field young Kasper Schmeichel in goal due to injuries to Richard Wright and the very poor morale of the old man Nigel Martyn. And we paid for it, despite referee Rob Styles doing his very best impression of an Everton fan.

With Koumas sent off after four minutes, I expected us to win comfortably, but Morris is proving to be a talented coach down at the Hawthorns and wasn't to be easily brushed aside. With two quick goals, both of which Murphy felt entitled to question a:The Keeper and b: the FM marking system which saw Hibbert on the central midfielder and not the winger where he should have been , Albion were on fire.

After reversing the tactical errors, I have to admit that even with ten men, WBA were an excellent opponent, certainly Everton's toughest yet. Throwing caution to the wind, we did pull one back on 74 minutes through Zurawski, but any chances of a come back were quickly killed by the WBA side responding a minute later.

Although I felt we were well beaten, I was surprised to see we had actually created more chances, but WBA were clinical on the day and deserved the points. More training required for my strikers.


Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Everton

With Sam Bouchard's Spurs outfit continuing to shock the EPL by putting up a vigourous title challenge, I wasn't looking forward to visiting White Hart Lane just two days after losing to West Brom. Bouchard is certainly gaining the respect of his fellow managers after such an impressive campaign thus far.

Pre game the 4-5-1 was tweaked a little in the hope that our appalling away record could be improved a little. Bouchard's side, kicked off and had three close range efforts in the first minute which set the tone. With Ricketts and Davies having excellent games, Everton's midfield of Lewandowski, Cahill and Sivok struggled to contain the Spurs side.

The match was all Spurs, with Everton defending - at times desperately and at times with great composure. So to nick a 0-0 draw here gives me hope that we can yet turn around the form away from home, and push for a mid-table position in the second half of the season.

retired_maggie123

Jay Jay Oh...crapa

Oh dear,oh dear,oh dear... doesn't look very rosie at the Reebok.

BIG debt, BIG wages, BIG pile of w*nk players, with no BIG Sam to sort it all out.

Unfortunately I have the unenviable task of marshalling this sorry excuse of a club out of the duldrums, and it seems I have my work cut out. The majorty of the playing staff are ageing "has beens" just coming for 1 last pay day the b***ards, except Jay Jay of course The club's wage structure is currently 100k in excess of the budget, the club's bank balance is 6m in the red, (post a 4m cash injection courtesy of the board, saving the club from inevitable administration) In fact things are so bad I'm seriously considering offloading any prospective assests, in other words selling any of my decent players, just to get back to a clean slate. Affairs on the pitch aren't much prettier with the club currently hovering above the relegation zone.

On a bright note the club have reached the semi's of the Carling Cup with Liverpool standing in their way of a visit to Cardiff so it's not all bad, most of it is though

Major Transfers In

B.Zenden (M'boro) 1m
N.Legrottagile (Juve) 550k
A.Lennon (Leeds) 250k
Z.Gera (WBA) player exchange
M.Johnson (Derby) 210k
F.(Rubberlegs)Asprilla (VDA) 90k
I.Mansiz free BARGAIN!
D.Richards (Spurs) free
F.Richardson (Leeds) 500k
G.Le Saux (YMCA) free
Scullion (Dunfermline) 230k

Major Transfers Out

K.Nolan (Chelsea cos they needed another midfielder u see) 2.3m
Ivan Campo (Celta) 500k
N.Hunt (WBA) p/exchange
T.Ben Haim (Galatasaray) 350k


Southampton 1-1 Bolton

This game was noticeable for Sam's mysterious disappearance act a few minutes prior to kick off, Saints appeared to suffer in the gaffer's absence as we bossed the game. 15 mins in Stelios opened what seemed like the first of many Bolton goals, Okocha the architect of a intricate passing move following a corner, crossing for Stelios to ponce on the back post. Then the incident which had me blaring out every explicit under the sun at my dopey defence, as Saints solitary shot on goal wasn't even by a Southampton player btw, it was one my lot N'gotty, I think it was a case of "lost in translation" with Fin Jaaskelainen and Frenchman N'Gotty apparently getting their wires crossed as N'Gotty touched the ball back to Jussi under no pressure whatsoever, somehow the ball drifted straight in, needless to say I was not amused droppng 2 points because of the most bizarre OG EVER!

Bolton 0-2 Arsenal

This game personified the phrase "one-way traffic" as the arse mounted attack after attack, in truth could have been 4-0 but for the acrobatics of the flying fin Jussi between the sticks. Gilberto opened the scoring (35mins) smacked in it from close very close range after the Welsh whiner Bellamy drifted past Campbell on the left flank. Arsenal's second wasn't what we've come to expect from the French fancies as it had Route 1 written all over it, Lehmann spot kick, bergkamp plucked the ball out the air, as only Bergkamp can, sidestepped OG specialist N'Gotty and buried into the bottom right hand corner, Game Over!


Fulham 1-0 Bolton

Even stevens in this game as both teams created a similar amount of scoreable oppotunities. However the difference on the day was Fulham's Van Der Sar as the goalie donned his superman outfit pre-match and saved anything/everything within his vicinity, the dutch t*sser. Pembridge converted the spot kick on 55 min for the 1-0 win after Campbell upended some Fulham player. Asprilla came on at around the 60 min mark, and made a significant contribution, with two jinking runs as the old rubber legs slalomed round the Fulham rearguard but smashed the resulting shots off target, if only the Colombian drug barron could finish. He'd be a world beater.

Pompey 0-1 Bolton

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz best way to describe this game. Pre-match signs were omnimus, as Goat paraded his new look Pompey team (post Jan's reopening of the transfer window)also known as Football's equivalent of the UN, Very little of interest materialised though. I had reason to be cheerful on the 14 min mark you could even say I was turkish delighted (read on you will understand ) as Asprilla forced crappy Hislop into a unconvincing parry and young Turk Ilhan Mansiz was the first to react the strikers fast becoming a Bolton legend due to the fact he's the only decent player I have and can actually score once in a while, unlike the rest of the muppets.

As Sheephead might say C'mmmmmmon u Whitemen :thup:

retired_kdanclair

Man City for a boring mid-table finish

One signing to report on.- Michael Brown from Spurs for £1.3mil.

Bosvelt out to NEC for 60k

Ok, so on to the matches.-

Man City 1-3 Arsenal

An expected defeat for City who just couldnt handle the pace and flair of the Gunners.

Fulham 8-1 Man City :thdn:

Well a boring game and nothing to report on.... :p

lol. oh my god.

Scored the first goal then everything went wrong.

Man City 4-1 Crystal Palace

A good game for City who dominated the game after being on the end of a massive beating.

Liverpool 2-1 Man City

This was the worst defeat for me I feel. Liverpool didnt deserve a thing from this, they were terrible. Says something about our defence then...

Man City 0-3 Birmingham

A disgraceful defeat for the underperforming City....simple as that.

Man City 2-0 Man United

A change of tactics for City and a change of luck. We dominated this game with Shearer and sub Fowler with the goals.

Portsmouth 0-1 Man City

This game in all fairness had draw written all-over it. Pompey were very unlucky to lose this tight match. Fullar missing a couple of absolute sitters.

Man City 0-0 Blackburn

Man City were the only team to kick the ball in this one apart from Freidle who was outstanding again.

Blackburn had one long-range off-target shot in the whole game. The fans will be looking forward to Boult's return no doubt.

Newcastle 1-1 Man City

Another draw. Anelka equalising in the last ten minutes to salvage a point for City.

Newcastle were looking good as their revival with Kevin Keegan continues. A fair result for both teams in my opinion then.

Man City 2-0 Reading (FA Cup 3rd Round)

No cup shock in this one then. Man City controlled the game.

The goalscorers were:
Michael Brown (30)
Trevor Sinclair (89)

Man City 0-0 WBA

A load of sitters missed in this game by both teams.

The draw was certainly the fair result in the end admitted Chris Morris and myself. i was the happiest out the two I imagine as Chris has being working miracles at WBA lately and so might have expected a win.

A very good game of football in my opinion despite the scoreline.

Man City 3-0 Huddersfield (FA Cup 4th Round)

Easy win for City as Huddersfield struggled to really create anything at all.

Sibierski with two and Anelka the substitute with a goal ensured that there was no cup upset here.

On to the 5th Round then! Its Nilsens Portsmouth then.

Spurs 1-1 Man City

Well off to Sh*te Hart Lane to play the high-flying Spurs.

I wasnt too optiomistic about going there as Sam Bouchard has done a terrific job, challenging for the title in 2nd place.

New man Kompany scored for Spurs from a poorly defended corner by Weir, but in the second-half, Anelka again went one-on-one and buried his chance on the second attempt. City hung on for the rest of the game well, restricting Tottenham to long-range effets and David James put in another surprising good display.



So, unbeaten in eight since changed to a new tactic and looking OK. 13th in the league now, but time to pull things around and comfortably avoiding the drop.

There are also some good new players coming in the summer to help us acheive more next season, such as Sunday Oliseh.

Also a new board has taken control of my club, clearing all debts and making a generous amount of transfer funds available.

More updates to follow tomorrow, C'mon City!

retired_hollieo

Should be around for 7:30 for a T&T this evening, with continue to be pressed at 8pm or thereabouts.

retired_hollieo

Lads, please see my message on the EPL forum and leave a response. Don't read and ignore.

Cheers

Niall