On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Atila Reincarnate]

Villa should appeal Friedels sending off.

[matthew123]

Good result against the Villa, never in doubt. I even predicted a 5-1 scoreline (50/1) pre-match, put ?1 on it!

So, now we have a 2 week break - but who does it harm most? Liverpool now running at full steam OR United desperate to get back to winning ways? How will Villa respond in their next game at Old Trafford, surely they will be a harder nut to crack than at Anfield.

I can't help but think that if Mike Riley had been in charge at Fulham he'd have tried to catch that throw from Rooney, rather than taking the no-nonsense approach of Phil Dowd.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Fair play to Dowd for standing up to the nonsense of the Manc players. They get away with it far too often. I hope the FA take action over the fist in Arshavins face from Taylor who later went off with a dodgy ankle, poetic justice or what!!

[ratty]

Yeah - I thought that was pretty pre meditated!

Geordies going down?

[Atila Reincarnate]

Good result for pompey, I watched the game, good entertainment, Crouch was a handful for the Everton defence throughout the game.

[ratty]

Aye - very pleased about the win! Crouch back to his best which he has not been at for a long while now!

[red devil]

Thanks for your concern Anna, been a busy weekend, besides if you look at my post history you'll see that I don't come on here gloating after a win, and likewise don't see why I should have to don the sackcloth and ashes when we lose...can't say I'm happy at losing 6 points to the scousers though, but as a club I think we always make life difficult for ourselves and thrive on adversity. The Treble winning year was a real rollercoaster ride, and victory tasted sweeter because of it. I think it's going to be a really exciting finish to the season all round, Utd and Chelski still in 3 comps (Chelski now outsiders for Prem though), 'pool in Prem and Champs League, and L'Arse in FA and Champs League; let battle commence...

[Annasfield]

You'll still win the league red devil as I can't see you dropping 4 points and us winning the remainder of our games. It's just nice to give you a bit of a scare along the way.

[red devil]

Your banter's fine Anna, can't say the same for all 'pool 'fans' though ;-) Don't worry, we are scared! I will definitely go AWOL if 'pool win the league. Already booked my holiday the week after the FA Cup final to hide if I have to!..

[citizenED]

Still never worked out the equation; support for my team = hatred for others. Banter, yes, ribbing, yes, humour, yes please, but out and out nastiness? Yes, sure, I had a little laugh at Utd's capitulation this week, mainly because of the antics of Rooney and Ronaldo and the fact that it makes the season more interesting, but who cannot admire a team that play so much great football.

[mockney piers]

I know that certainly exists citizen.

It doesn't really for me, although I admit to a pang of jealousy to other teams' successes, but that covers most teams from yo-yo status up.

Some fans do irk, and inevitably it will be from the more successful teams, bad winners, bad losers, insufferable types, and they are legion. Hence why I love to see teams lose big matches, or drop points at Fulham.

I think we do pretty well on this forum to be honest, and most people set out their stalls honestly and eloquently, even your cockney red types (says the spanish east londoner) ;)

[AllforNun]

AFN predicts.

"11/2 villa to do liverpool.

Form says this year, win a big one lose the next, check it out and place your bets !"

right i'll get my coat then !

[snorky]

I can respect most footbvall if it is played well, I can even go as far to say I have respect for SAF & the Manshite

Liverpool are pond dwelling filth though, and I suspend my normal balanced views in their case.

[matthew123]

Whether Liverpool will win all their games I don't know - I think you have to take one weekend at a time as the complexion can be completely changed on one result. However, looking at both teams fixtures and the way both teams are set-up I think United have the harder run in. If I were a United fan I'd be most concerned about the home fixtures against Man City, Arsenal, Spurs and Villa and Wigan away. I am not convinced about the United midfield and if Ronaldo does not perform then United could easily ship a lot more points.

Of course Liverpool need to keep winning, and I think they will. I can see the Reds dropping a few points at West Ham.

[Jah Lush]

Good to see Ledley King and Aaron Lennon back in the England squad. If it wasn't for his dodgy knee I'm sure Ledley would be a regular in the England back four. On his day he's one of the best centre backs in the world. And Lennon has struck a rich vein of form and deserves his place in there too.

[ratty]

For me Ledley can play the anchor man role in midfield too. I think he is a mustard player - shame about the injuries!

AAAGH Twice in two days have I written positively about Spurs.

*spit spit spit

[Mick Mac]

Still have not lost complete confidence in MU. Think the international break has come at a good time for them and they will come back refreshed. If they win their next game, the the pressure is back on Liverpool who I think play the next day, so MU could go 4 points ahead on equal games and that's quite a lot of pressure on Liverpool, who by contrast do not need the international break to come just now.

[matthew123]

Actually Liverpool play the day before - so United could be trailing by 2 points when they face Villa who will be determined not to be humiliated again after yesterday's Sunday roast. The International break has come at an unfortunate time but I'm not sure who it impacts the most.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

ManU "thrive on adversity"?

First back-to-back Premiership defeats for 6 Seasons....:)

The break must impact on the team with momentum, think "Tim Henman v Goran" before the rain came at Wimbledon a few years ago.

Goran was all washed off but used the enforced break to recharge and "regroup"....

[matthew123]

Of course it'll impact on Liverpool as it breaks their momentum. However it'll also impact United, as unlike Goran, they will not be able to regroup as a team for another 10 days, during which time the sting of defeat maybe lost on some players. What United need is time on the training pitch to make a few tweaks and reassert their style of play - and that is the impact they will suffer from the break.

As you say the last time United lost back to back PL games was 2002/03 - which happened twice that season. The first PL double defeat was followed by losing another 9 points in the next 9 PL games. The second PL double defeat cost 4 more points during the next 9 games. Liverpool need United to lose a minimum of 4 points in their remaining 9 games this season following their latest PL double defeat if Liverpool are to have any chance of the title.

[Annasfield]

"Liverpool need United to lose a minimum of 4 points in their remaining 9 games this season following their latest PL double defeat if Liverpool are to have any chance of the title"

Ha ha - no shit Sherlock!

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Annasfield Wrote:

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

> "Liverpool need United to lose a minimum of 4

> points in their remaining 9 games this season

> following their latest PL double defeat if

> Liverpool are to have any chance of the title"

>

> Ha ha - no shit Sherlock!

It may be "elementary" but Matthew is right to highlight this.

Getting a bit cocky after the last fortnight, ain't yer, Anna?

p.s. Mind you, I'd luv it, REALLY luv it if you beat United........now where was that quote from?:))

[Annasfield]

Oh Tony. How on earth was that cocky?

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Annasfield Wrote:

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

> Oh Tony. How on earth was that cocky?

Its elementary Anna.

The "no shit Sherlock?" reference to poor Matthew who was only pointing out the position of the Teams...poor Lad.

[matthew123]

I can't really complain about one sentence being picked out from a paragraph as I've been guilty myself in the past for my gutter tabloid remarks about United... LOL

Anyway, without the "sherlock" sentence, the paragraph might have read as a meaningless stat... as not everyone is in tune with the predicament of the Big 2!