Today, with Chelsea pulling out a 1-0 win over Stoke City, Roberto Di Matteo, the interim manager for Roman Abrhamovich, has strengthened his case for the head managerial job. Last Sunday, 34 year old Portugese manager Andre Villas-Boas was fired, with Chelsea in 5th place. They are still in 5th place, only trailing Arsenal on goal difference. This was Di Matteo's first home game as interim manager, following a 2-0 win over Championship side Birmingham. This week, Chelsea play host to SSC Napoli in the Champions League. They are down 3-1 on aggregate, and only a miracle will propel them into the Round of 16.
Di Matteo didn't start Juan Mata, who has racked up 5 goals and 9 assists for the West Londoners this campaing, because he thought it would be a physical game, with goes against the finesse filled Juan Mata's game. "We are gaining confidence and belief," he said in a postmatch interview, "and that is we need to go forward."
Among the names of replacements for Villas-Boas are Jose Mourhino, Rafa Benetiz, and even the successful Pep Guardiola, even though that is very unlikely. The next couple of weeks and months will be carzy ones.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
"The Game Before the Game"
Sunday brings around one of the biggest sports days in America, as the Super Bowl is being played. But, across the pond, on of the biggest soccer days will be played out, as Manchester United travels to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea, while Newcastle takes on Aston Villa. "The Game before the Game," as Fox Soccer is calling it, will be one of the biggest games of the year.
In the first clash between these giants, out of whom have come the last seven champions, Manchester United dominated the game, winning by a tally of 3-1, with Fernando Torres missing an open goal shot that brought boo's and a hail of abuse from the media. The game was Manchester United's to lose from the start, and the advantage of Old Trafford helped very much. Now, Chelsea are at home, and though they are coming off an exceptionally weak performance at Swansea, they can be expected to perform better. All title hopes are gone for the Blues now, with a hope residing only truthfully in the FA Cup, or, a very, very unlikely Champions League trophy. Andre Villas Boas is truthfully on the hot seat with Roman Abrhamovich.
Yesterday's riots in Egypt after a Al-Masry and Aly-Ahly where 74 people were killed has resulted in the Egyptian FA's board being disbanded by the prime minister Kamal el-Ganzouri, as FIFA were demanding reports as to why such a tragedy was allowed to happen. Hundreds more people were injured. This is the worst show of soccer violence since 1996.
In the first clash between these giants, out of whom have come the last seven champions, Manchester United dominated the game, winning by a tally of 3-1, with Fernando Torres missing an open goal shot that brought boo's and a hail of abuse from the media. The game was Manchester United's to lose from the start, and the advantage of Old Trafford helped very much. Now, Chelsea are at home, and though they are coming off an exceptionally weak performance at Swansea, they can be expected to perform better. All title hopes are gone for the Blues now, with a hope residing only truthfully in the FA Cup, or, a very, very unlikely Champions League trophy. Andre Villas Boas is truthfully on the hot seat with Roman Abrhamovich.
Yesterday's riots in Egypt after a Al-Masry and Aly-Ahly where 74 people were killed has resulted in the Egyptian FA's board being disbanded by the prime minister Kamal el-Ganzouri, as FIFA were demanding reports as to why such a tragedy was allowed to happen. Hundreds more people were injured. This is the worst show of soccer violence since 1996.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Battle of the Giants, part 2
On Sunday, Manchester United visits the Emirates as they try to steal three points from a hot Robin Van Persie and Arsenal. The game will be a rewind, with Thierry Henry, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs playing against each other in Man U/Arsenal shirts for the first time since 2007.
The game is being highly advertised by Fox, who is airing the game in the US. The key for the Man U is to contain an explosive Robin Van Persie, who has racked up a league high 18 goals and is sure to score at least one on Sunday. The explosive striker has surely been occupying Sir Alex Ferguson's mind this week, as RVP has the capacity to go off. Rio Ferdinand and captain Nemanja Vidic will have their hands full on Sunday. Alex Song and Gervinho are both potential threats that can't be left alone.
The key for Arsenal is to not give Rooney more than five chances on goal. Though this may sound crazy, but Rooney's scored 13 goals this year on 90 shots, compared to RVP's 18 goals on 97 shots, which is a 14% success rate compared to a 18% success. The less shots he gets, the less likely he is to score (somewhat obvious). And for Pete's sake, don't let him fire strikes from 26 yards out at the goal all day. Get out on him.
My prediction: Arsenal 3, Man U 2.
The game is being highly advertised by Fox, who is airing the game in the US. The key for the Man U is to contain an explosive Robin Van Persie, who has racked up a league high 18 goals and is sure to score at least one on Sunday. The explosive striker has surely been occupying Sir Alex Ferguson's mind this week, as RVP has the capacity to go off. Rio Ferdinand and captain Nemanja Vidic will have their hands full on Sunday. Alex Song and Gervinho are both potential threats that can't be left alone.
The key for Arsenal is to not give Rooney more than five chances on goal. Though this may sound crazy, but Rooney's scored 13 goals this year on 90 shots, compared to RVP's 18 goals on 97 shots, which is a 14% success rate compared to a 18% success. The less shots he gets, the less likely he is to score (somewhat obvious). And for Pete's sake, don't let him fire strikes from 26 yards out at the goal all day. Get out on him.
My prediction: Arsenal 3, Man U 2.
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