On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Ted Max]

Diet. Lifestyle. Training methods. Luck. Not playing a lot. Better physio. Softer/ harder training pitches. More luck on the horses.

I've no idea if any of these are relevant, but they all could be.

[matthew123]

Either way I think we'll see these muscle injuries being repeated during course of season - the worrying thing for Owen is that it usually takes quite a few games for him to return to form by which time he on the brink of another niggly injury.

I'm not an expert but I'd have thought warmer climate helps to keep your muscles supple... maybe we'll have to keep an eye on how Johnny Wilkinson shapes up in the south of France now he has departed the Newcastle Falcons

edit - refresh

[Mick Mac]

GOAL.....1-1.

Cheating austrians.

[????]

Judy told us that

[Mick Mac]

Have to say I'm amazed that Gary Caldwell is on the team tonight. Loovens has been solid for Celtic and is unfairly dropped. Hope that defensive frailities do not haunt us.

55 mins - Caldwell misses open goal - hes becoming a comedy character.

[Mick Mac]

Celtic completley on top and Celtic make 3 substitutions, 2 of which I would disagree with. He takes off NGuemo, who I thought was holding things together in midfield, if Celtic lose the last 10 minute midfield battle it will be s disaster and poor work by Mowbray.

[matthew123]

Interesting BBC article about Liverpool

It says the Carlsberg deal was worth ?14.2m per year - rather than the much believed ?7m p.a. put together by Rick Parry. It also reports one estimate of Liverpool having upto 130m fans in 16 major [commercial] markets worldwide... not sure whether 60,000 - 75,000 new stadium will now be adequate ... if the new Premiership owners have their way it won't be a 39th PL game it'll be a 'home' game in every major market... just hope they'll leave Liverpool the Big 4 and Everton matches for Anfield ;-)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8282125.stm

edit - refresh

[matthew123]

It's not looking good down at Pompey with 7 straight defeats this season, and now problems with players not getting paid. It is something like 100 years since a team has avoided relegation with that kind of start and that was Liverpool. There maybe ?50m on the table but unless they're actually Pompey fans will the invester(s) release the money with likely relegation and minimal chance of a return.

It's only 2 years since they won the FA Cup, and only start of last season they had a pretty strong team and looking like they were going to compete in the top 8 with Harry Redknapp as Manager. This fall from grace is in many ways worse than that of Leeds United.

edit - refresh

[MB]

Bookies have dropped the odds on 'Arry being next prem manager to go, apparently the money laundering/bribe/whatever it was case is going to be announced today...

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/next-manager-to-leave-post

[red devil]

matthew, are you still having problems posting?

Pompey is definitely the proverbial collapsing pack of cards, latest news is the new owner is in hospital waiting to get some kidney stones removed,do you think they are trying to find his wallet?..

[Jah Lush]

Oh that's fukcing great news that is MB. Harry the next manager to go? I fecking hope not. Just as Spurs are starting to build up some momentum it'll all go tits up again. Typical!

[kpc]

Takes some doing to displace Paul Hart or Phil Brown from the top of that list.

[matthew123]

red devil Wrote:

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> matthew, are you still having problems posting?

>

Yes. Although if I do an edit afterwards it'll refresh otherwise like this posting it will not update front page until someone else posts after me.

Going for a crazy prediction this Sunday, lots of goals at Stamford Bridge for both sides... but I think Liverpool might just sneak it 4-3..(or maybe 5-4!!)

edit - hmmmm it worked first time, maybe it is fixed

[Jah Lush]

Bolton 0 Tottenham 2

Burnley 2 Birmingham 1

Hull City 0 Wigan Athletic 2

Man Utd 3 Sunderland 2

Wolves 2 Portsmouth 1

Arsenal 3 Blackburn 0

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 3

Everton 2 Stoke City 0

West Ham 1 Fulham 1

Aston Villa 1 Man City 2

[Keef]

Apparently Owen's injury isn't too bad, and he's expected back on the 17th. Bet he's relieved!

[Jah Lush]

Bollocks to Owen - Michael and Hargreaves. Defoe's out tomorrow but it won't stop the Spurs giving Bolton the tonking they damned well deserve.

[matthew123]

Ferguson claimed Owen's long term injuries have been caused by playing too much as a Liverpool youngster - so why did Sherlock Ferguson play him the other night after missing previous day's training because of injury?... answers on a postcard

Defoe out, Cech out... my FFL team might struggle this w/e. damn!

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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

> Bolton 0 Tottenham 2

> Burnley 2 Birmingham 1

> Hull City 0 Wigan Athletic 2

> Man Utd 3 Sunderland 2

> Wolves 2 Portsmouth 1

> Arsenal 3 Blackburn 0

> Chelsea 2 Liverpool 3

> Everton 2 Stoke City 0

> West Ham 1 Fulham 1

> Aston Villa 1 Man City 2

You missed:

Rangers 1 : 7 Celtic

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

How much did you drink at the Forum Do?

[????]

He drank your double

[ratty]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Oh that's @#$%& great news that is MB. Harry the

> next manager to go? I fecking hope not. Just as

> Spurs are starting to build up some momentum it'll

> all go tits up again. Typical!

Not allowed to manage a team from a prison cell! :)

[????]

Good win for you today Ratty....we're 2nd bottom :(

[Sandperson]

Sounds like we are going to nee several minutes of Fergie time! :'(

[Sandperson]

Ooo. That's one!

[matthew123]

Only saw last 15 minutes but thought United looked a bit flat and Ferguson seemed less animated than usual - maybe just a bad day at the office. In a way not too disappointed with the late equalizer as United usually go on a long winning streak after a defeat. Maybe Fergie now regrets resting Rio and Giggs.