Football Focus

[Keef]

Good match I thought. To be fair, Arsenal were the better team, but Newcastle were a lot better than they have been recently, and they really worked hard for the result. Keeps it interesting at the top...

[Annasfield]

Keef - would you mind making a few more predictions like that for the weekend ;-)

[Ladygooner]

We were really missing Fabregas and Hleb.......

[Jah Lush]

Tut tut, excuses, excuses LG. Still, look at it this way, you're still four points ahead of Man Utd.

[Ladygooner]

Yes and they have a really tough match this weekend - home to Derby!

[atila the gooner]

I'll take the point safe in the knowledge that we can step up a gear or two with RV14, Cesc, Flamini, and Hleb out last night and set to return. Look out premiership, we are still not firing on all cylinders!!

[Jah Lush]

Who the F**k is RV14?

[Ladygooner]

Robin van Persie of course!

[atila the gooner]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Who the F**k is RV14?

Language Jah!! That should read RV11, Robin Van Persie, that's who the f**k he is.

[Ladygooner]

Here we go again

Aston Villa 2 v 2 Portsmouth

Chelsea 3 v 1 Sunderland

Everton 2 v 1 Fulham

Man. United 5 v 0 Derby

Newcastle 1 v 1 Birmingham

Reading 2 v 1 Liverpool

Middlesbrough 1 v 2 Arsenal

Bolton 3 v 3 Wigan

Tottenham 2 v 3 Man. City

Blackburn 3 v 2 West Ham

[Jah Lush]

I kind of knew that, just a small wind up. I despise Robin Van Persie and all he stands for.>:D<

Ledley King made a comeback for the reserves the other night and I'm hoping he'll be fit for selection by the weekend but I've heard that one before and just hope he doesn't break down again as Spurs have completely forgotten how to defend since he's been out injured. We should win away at Anderlect tonight although a 1-1 draw which is what I'm expecting should seal us qualification for the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

As for the weekend's fixtures:-

Aston Villa 1 Portsmouth 1

Chelsea 3 Sunderland 0

Everton 2 Fulham 1

Man Utd 4 Derby 0

Newcastle 2 Birmingham 1

Reading 1 Liverpool 2

Middlesbrough 0 Arsenal 2

Blackburn 2 West Ham 1

Bolton 1 Wigan Athletic 1

Tottenham 2 Man City 1

[mockney piers]

RVP TP

[atila the gooner]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I kind of knew that, just a small wind up. I

> despise Robin Van Persie and all he stands

> for.>:D

>What the f**k does that mean "all he stands for"

[Jah Lush]

I was parodying a line that you trot out on a regular basis. For instance..."I hate CSKA Fulham and all they stand for."

[atila the gooner]

sorry your comedy is far too complicated and therefore lost on me, unlike your teams performances which are an endless source of amusement week in week out. >:D

[Jah Lush]

Yeah, I don't know whether to laugh or cry when it comes to Younis Kaboul and his perfect parody of Titus Bramble.

[Keef]

Arsenal do have players to come back, but credit where it's due, Newcastle were good value for their draw last night. At one point in the second half, Arsenal couldn't keep the ball and the passing was all over the shop. Nice to see Joey Barton hasn't let fame change him... :-S That was one blatant body check!

I can't stand "Big Sam", but the fight shown by Smith, Taylor and Martins made me want to see them do okay. I thought it was one of the best matches (for a neutral) I've seen this season.

Aaaanyway

Aston Villa 2 Portsmouth 1

Chelsea 2 Sunderland 0

Everton 2 Fulham 0

Man Utd 2 Derby 1 (this will probably be a massive beating, but I'm just thinking that Jewell might toughen Derby up a bit)

Newcastle 2 Birmingham 1

Reading 1 Liverpool 2

Middlesbrough 1 Arsenal 2

Blackburn 2 West Ham 2

Bolton 1 Wigan Athletic 1

Tottenham 2 Man City 1

[atila the gooner]

Spurs defence did a wonderful impression of the Keystone Kops last night for the Anderlecht goal.

Aston Villa 2 Portsmouth 1

Chelsea 2 Sunderland 0

Everton 2 Fulham 0

Man Utd 3 Derby 0

Newcastle 1 Birmingham 1

Reading 1 Liverpool 2

Middlesbrough 0 Arsenal 3

Blackburn 2 West Ham 0

Bolton 1 Wigan Athletic 1

Tottenham 1 Man City 1

[Annasfield]

Aston Villa 2 Portsmouth 2

Chelsea 2 Sunderland 1

Everton 3 Fulham 0

Man Utd 3 Derby 1

Newcastle 2 Birmingham 2

Reading Liverpool - Nope

Middlesbrough 1 Arsenal 2

Blackburn 0 West Ham 1

Bolton 2 Wigan Athletic 0

Tottenham 2 Man City 2

[Jah Lush]

atila the gooner Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Spurs defence did a wonderful impression of the

> Keystone Kops last night for the Anderlecht goal.

I know, dreadful wasn't it. We want our Ledley back. I predicted the correct score though.

[SimonM]

Aston Villa 2 Portsmouth 1

Chelsea 3 Sunderland 0

Everton 2 Fulham 0

Man Utd 5 Derby 0

Newcastle 2 Birmingham 1

Reading 1 Liverpool 3

Middlesbrough 0 Arsenal 2

Blackburn 2 West Ham 1

Bolton 1 Wigan Athletic 0

Tottenham 2 Man City 1

[ratty]

Villa 1 Pompey 3

[Keef]

Listening to the Liverpool match on he radio, and they're scathing about Rafa's team selection, tactics, and substitutions.

Fair enough they ot a dodgy penalty, but still it's typical Liverpool throwing away points in matches we should be winning. This is why we are never real contenders. Makes me so angry! :X

[SeanMacGabhann]

watching the game and the reactions Keef it seems clear that Rafa is prioritising Tuesday's game.... which makes it easy to have a pop at him about not wanting the league enough

20 mins left is plenty time for a big team to turn around 2 goals IMO - he will definitely not be Mr Popular on 5Live

[Annasfield]

Rafa has shown today that Tuesday's game was far more important than today's. He's not soft though and there are two sides to this. Agreed we have a squad strong enough to play on all fronts, BUT tuesday is a must win game. We can't afford to drop any points in the Prem, particularly at Reading. I'm sure though that if you had a choice (and be honest Keef), you can win one game or the other. Which would you chose?

There have been some seriously dodgy decisions made this evening. Reading's "penalty" was not a pen. If that were the case, why was Carra' not booked. We had two pen shouts and both were waived off. That tackle on Vorononin was shocking and we should have had a free kick. All things that in my opinion would have influenced the game. I'd put money on the fact that if Reading had had a free kick rather than a pen, we'd have won comfortably.

That said, we should have won - end of.