It was the moment we had all been waiting for. And much more besides. Stoke City took on Preston at Deepdale on Tuesday night, in what was the 101st meeting between two of England’s most prestigious clubs. It was league leaders against a club fighting for survival, old masters versus –hopefully - the new. It was a blustery evening in the northwest, on a heavily waterlogged pitch & a typically open night in the Championship.
And on such an emotionally-charged occasion, it was the youngest referee in the league who took charge of the game (if that’s what you call it), a mere pup at the tender age of 22. This was the Championship & this was of course Stoke City.
But, despite this being an evening of bitter disappointment, when inexperience cost Stoke City dearly, I refuse to dwell on the negatives. And in a game which could quite easily ended 5-3 to the Potters, I am determined to remain objective. This after-all was just another ordinary night in the Championship & hopefully just one more lesson learned in complacency. And oddly enough, just what the manager had warned his team about prior to the Preston match.
In the pre-match build-up, with Stoke receiving some unfamiliar - & possibly unwanted – media attention, Pulis’ perfect analogy revealed to journo’s the competitive nature of this division. A typically down-to-earth Tone, told of how his team knew the dangers of their position, & if his team didn’t continue to fire on all cylinders, then their pants would be duly pulled & their arses unceremoniously reddened (or words to that effect). Needless to say, his team, not for the want of trying, were slightly off their A-games at Deepdale & as a result a newly expectant crowd went back to Stoke extremely disappointed.
The game for me went something a little like this…
Rushing back from work, I was desperate to purchase something, apart from ale, that would get me in the mood for the 12th from last game of the season. I decided, as I was not at the match, in Ireland even, I would try to recreate the conditions as though I were actually there - a sort of antidote for my recent bout of home-sickness. Of course, the friendly looking young girl behind the bakery counter looked at me quizzically when I asked her for a savoury meat & potato pie, so I decided to refrain from asking my 2nd question of “got any Wrights?”(Realising I was clutching at straws with this one!). I left dejected, but not defeated.
Undeterred, I stopped to get steak mince from the butchers & grabbed some spuds from the Super Valu. Yes, I would have a bash myself. I had to be quick though; it was 5.30pm & the match kicked-off in a little over 2 hours. Once home, I diligently cracked on with my pie-making. After much fortitude & persistence, I scrupulously glazed a wholesome looking pie with egg yolk & whacked it in a hot oven. Job done. Or so I thought.
Now sweating profusely, I switched on my PC & Sky Sports for the build-up, where Stoke were receiving some uncharted media attention. We were the league leaders & with our rivals not in action until the weekend, this was an opportunity for us to move four points clear of the pack, so the interest was fully justified. Sky Sports news flashes & radio Stoke (via the internet) provided my usual vantage; headphones on, like an old man with his wireless, I listened on intently…
The game kicked-off & I could hear a buoyant travelling support in the background. I went through the usual list emotions: “why aren’t I there”, “I’m missing out again” & “I know we can do this”. After a bright start, we were immediately put on the back foot, as Preston showed us their credentials. I didn’t expect this to be an easy game - despite their precarious league position -after experiencing some tough battles with Preston in recent years (most memorably when they beat us 4-3 at the start of season 02/03 - with none other than Cresswell scoring the winner in injury-time for the North-Enders). Moreover, despite being in the relegation zone, they’d recorded some pretty impressive results this season, including; homes wins against Watford (& a recent draw away) & Brazil (aka West Brom), & also performed an FA Cup demo-job on Championship bound Derby. They are indeed a team who deserved respect & we were duly obliging…
The crowd continued to show their support & we heard our first (impressive) rendition of ‘Delilah’. The atmosphere in those early stages, I have to say, sounded electric & I dearly wished I was there in person soaking up the atmosphere. They responded with an ‘olé olé olé olé’ of their own after doing well to retain possession. Tony Gayle - the Sky correspondent for this game - was making long ball jibes all-night long (& will always find an ally in Paul Merson – who bizarrely has an axe to grind with Stoke) & suggested Preston wanted it far more. I begged to differ. The ex-pro (in case you weren’t aware) would later wind-me-up further when accusing Lawrence of “over-playing it” with ‘that’ chance, making the wise crack: “you won’t hear that said about Stoke too often” (very original!). I can now see why he writes for The Sun…
And so, when they took a seemingly deserved lead, everyone at Sky saw it coming. I shrugged it off nonplussed, with thoughts of Scunthorpe an overriding factor for my continued optimism. Besides, maybe it was what the game needed & more importantly give Stoke the proverbial kick up the backside. How wrong I was…
10 short minutes later (me, momentarily soothed by hearing the drawled-out monosyllables of my beloved home-town accent) & it was 2-0 & my confidence came crashing down to earth with a thud. It was the same scorer, another free-kick, & more importantly young Shawcross who was again at fault for their goal. With the poignancy of the “Ell feel that, I can tell ya” comment resounding painstakingly through my earphones, I irrationally blamed the commentator for the curse he’d placed on our team. Regaining my composure, albeit fearing this was going to be one of those nights, I said to myself: “one goal & we’re back in it”. These sentiments lasted until 10 minutes from the end; when I decided after a barrage of chances, a couple of injury scares & bans to key players, my fears had been fully realised. I became engulfed by the fowl stench of defeat & it wasn’t the only thing I could smell. Caught-up in the melodrama, I had completely forgotten about my bleedin’ pie! My beautiful pie was burnt beyond recognition & capped what turned out to be a miserable evening.
I quickly snapped out of my depression as I regained some much needed perspective. We can take major consolation in the manner of this defeat & solace in the fact we still sit proudly at the top of the table. And in the Championship, the points are certainly worth more than the games in hand. Furthermore, an away tie at a club fighting for their lives, on a murderous night in the northwest, was never going to be easy.
This crushing defeat didn’t exactly have a silver-lining per se, but in the grand scheme of things it could well prove to be a blessing in disguise. I would much prefer to learn a lesson like this now, rather than in the last couple of games of the season when it is much too late to put things right. I only hope this was a passing shower, that we recover quickly & the sun is shining on Stoke City in Shepherds Bush on Sunday.
In hindsight, this was an evening to forget about & it is only how we react to it that matters most. If we respond to it like we did to the defeat away to Charlton, then it may well have done us a favour. If we let it affect our confidence, then it could harm the rest of our campaign. I sense it won’t trouble us too much & our bellicose spirit – which we’ve shown in the past - will be our redemption once again.
Nevertheless, it’s important we learn form this & we learn our lesson quickly. In this division, resting on one’s laurels is not an option & Pulis has to find a solution to our wayward finishing & nervous defence, if we are to achieve promotion. Last season Sunderland persistently added to their squad right until the end, adding to areas where they needed to improve. The signing of Stern John added fresh impetuous to their attack & he in-turn added some vital goals in their run-in. Despite Sidibe playing a pivotal role in our success this term & him being an un-sung hero of this team (a concept which a Guardian journo failed to grasp in midweek), IMO we do need more variation to our play, & more importantly, another goalscorer to come in alongside Fuller. We have to keep improving & keep progressing, or else, as Bob Dylan once put it – we will certainly start to sink like a stone.
IMHO, tough games at Deepdale should be taken with more caution & Diao possibly should have started the match. A 0-0 draw in the circumstances would have sufficed. But then again, Diao has struggled with fitness of late & his combative spirit has waned somewhat from last season. I agreed totally with TP’s judicious decision to leave Salif out in the last few matches, but at QPR on Sunday; it is time he is reinstalled in the Stoke City midfield & we call upon his vast experience in these testing circumstances.
In summery, the Preston match was much like my pie fiasco. I don’t mean Stoke resemble a burnt-out mess, full of spuds & mince, on the crust of failure, although I have met a few dubious characters from the Potteries in my time. Rather, despite the effort & application I put into my pie-making, it just wasn’t meant to be. My girlfriend has warned me not to try it again, in fear ill bugger et up once more, but I most certainly will; knowing that if I just adjust the temperature & get my timing a little better, I’ll make a success of it next time around. Similarly, if Stoke learn from what went wrong at Preston, then they still have a great chance of promotion. I would’ve been more worried if Stoke didn’t make the chances on Tuesday, but in truth, we could’ve easily won the game 5-3 with the chances (& penalty shout) we created.
In response to my last article on Stoke, a confused Sunderland fan (missing my point completely) wrote in angrily to me, saying that if we go up then we too will have glory-hunters latching onto us. For the record I was only suggesting Sunderland had gained a huge Irish following since the appointment of Keane & his subsequent Irish recruitment policy. But, if what he was suggesting comes true, then I wouldn’t bemoan the fact & will except our fate willingly.
I’m off to Killarney (Co. Kerry) this weekend & I am certainly looking forward to seeing ‘the Kingdom’ and the famous ‘Ring of Kerry’. But mostly, I can’t wait to see Stoke City’s long overdue match shown on Sky Sports this Sunday. And if I can recruit, round-up, or muster any kind of support for the mighty Potters, then I will do so with pride & honour. We’re still the underdogs I know, nethertheless, despite our many doubters after Tuesday, I am still hopeful we’ll bounce back even stronger at QPR & I am sure we’ll continue to add to our ever-growing support. Fingers crossed.
Remember to join me again & ill let you know how I got on in Kerry….
These are intriguing times in football. Already in 2008; there has been the return of ‘King Kev’ - to the delight of the masses on Tyneside (and rightfully predicted by your humble narrator), an Italian taking charge of England, & another much older & wiser (say the Irish) one taking charge of Ireland (in what has surely been the longest appointment process of all-time), they even planned to play the PL abroad – with an absurd ‘39th game proposal’. There is also Keano’s Irish revolution happening up at Sunderland, who incidentally, have become embroiled in one of the most exciting relegation battles in PL history. But for me, the most invigorating story in football at present is the rise of my beloved Stoke City to the summit of the Championship; whom after years of suffering & degradation find themselves on the verge of top flight football once again. And I have never been more excited.
These are also significant times for The English Football Post. Soon, you will be able to leave your own post, similar to this one, as we attempt to revolutionize the way football is discussed on the internet & offer an alternative to the usual forum archetype. Register & you’ll also be able to share your views with a mass audience; post your own article; or even start your own blog.
Anyway, back to my story…
When I moved to Ireland, any hopes of watching my team regularly had relinquished; fearful I had condemned myself to a life of listening to Stoke City on the radio via the internet, but for an annual FA Cup exit that may or may not be televised. Or, I may be lucky enough to occasionally watch the mighty Potters live on Sky Sports in the back room of a deserted Irish pub, as I listlessly attempted to explain to a polite-but-uninterested fella, where exactly Stoke-on-Trent is (closer to Manchester than Birmingham), who indeed comes from there (the Captain of the Titanic), & how important the Potteries used to be (pre-Thatcher). And this of course, would be on condition no Rugby or Gaelic matches - with any whiff of significance – were not on another channel; or that SUNDERLAND were not on Setanta, in which case, I’d have to indiscreetly & shamelessly watch the game in the stink of the bookies.
It seemed I had incarcerated myself to a life of torment. Or so I thought…
You see, after a 5th straight win against Ipswich yesterday, Stoke sit proudly at the summit of the Championship, & I would be lying if I said I am not slightly hopeful about our very realistic chances of promotion. My ardour, is echoed I am sure, by my fellow long suffering Stokies, & we could well be watching our team regularly on Sky Sports, Sentanta, ‘MotD’ & ‘The Premiership’ (its Irish equivalent) next season. And Potter’s fires will be well & truly reignited.
IMO Stoke are the Sunderland of the Championship this season; minus the Irish bandwagon – those which mysteriously came out of the woodwork last season, swearing blind they had followed the Black Cats since the days of Gabbiadini (classy goalscorer from 80’s & early 90’s) & the legend that was John Byrne (not so great goal-getter with 22 Caps for Eire). Stoke do not just adopt a similar style of football as Sunderland, possess their never-say-die spirit, or simply share the same workmanlike qualities as the Wear-siders; Stoke embody a je ne sais quoi, reminiscent of Roy Keane’s team last term, which ultimately won them promotion.
But the correlation between the two northern cities don’t stop there, & the similarities between the two clubs, dare I say it, are there in red & white.
Not only are these two heavily industrial cities of similar size & stature, but the working-class inhabitants are of corresponding nature also. And despite Sunderland being far more successful in the first half of last century, many parallels can be made in both club’s illustrious histories. Those amongst you who know your history will be aware that Stoke City are the 2nd oldest football club in the world, & inaugural members of the football league. But in that first season, unable to compete with likes of Preston, Burnley & Blackburn, Stoke finished bottom of the table & were controversially voted out of the top division. Their replacement, yes you guessed it, were Sunderland AFC. And to add insult to injury, Sunderland – the first club outside the midland/northwest region to compete in the football league – played in the same red & white strips famed by the Potters. The archetypes don’t stop there.
Some hundred years later & Stoke City were relegated from the top division in 1984/5 with a record lowest points tally. Some 20 years later, & who else but Sunderland were relegated with fewer. And finally, if it wasn’t enough that the old Roker Park looked suspiciously identical to Stoke’s famous Victoria Ground, the Black Cats new stadium - albeit with their corners filled-in thus accounting for an extra 20,000 capacity – is a carbon copy of the Britannia Stadium, & both opened in Aug 1997. It’s no great surprise then that ‘the Mackems’ are beginning to get up my nose.
Sunderland’s renaissance has been well-documented; I only hope the coincidences continue.
The excitement of transfer deadline day, matched any I’d experienced & took me back to days of page 302 on Ceefax. Whilst most, tuned into Sky Sports news to see if the Defoe/Benjani transfer had gone through, I anxiously sought confirmation that Glenn Whelan had become a Stoke City player. With his move from Sheff Wed not confirmed until 20 after midnight, with not even a mention by newsreaders, I retired to my bed with my renewed optimism fully justified. This signing, together with the £2.2million spent on 2 free-scoring centre-backs represented a massive change at Stoke City; whom hitherto, had always been a selling club. I wouldn’t go as far in saying that the Whelan transfer will be the catalyst in Stoke’s promotion, but it is certainly an extremely positive sign for a club used to letting go players with even an iota of potential. (Garth Crooks, Paul Bracewell, Adrian ‘inchie’ Heath, Peter Beagrie, Steve Bould, Lee Dixon, Mark Stein & Mike Sheron to name just a few)
At a club, where over the years, the fans had lost all confidence in the board (& at times the feeling has been mutual) the Glenn Whelan signing, arguably the most promising midfielder outside the PL, for a meagre £500,000, is a massive coup for Stoke City & a gigantic step in the right direction. He’s young, gifted & Irish; I cannot believe Roy Keane & ‘Big Bird’ didn’t come sniffing.
But it’s two other Irish midfielders, whom Keane atypically decided to let go, that have been the biggest factor in Stoke’s remarkable run of form. Lawrence (£500,000 & scored 13 goals this season) & Delap (free & player of the season IMHO) have been Stoke’s two outstanding performers this season & a clear indication of Tone’s (as he’s affectionately known on the Potteries) shrewdness in the transfer market. If Stoke do get promoted, Stokies will be eternally grateful to Keane for gifting them with these two gemstones.
While we’re on the subject, & taking nothing away from Keane’s achievements at Sunderland; his dealings in the transfer market at times have been, at the very least, contentious. Tony Pulis, on the other hand has an impeccable record, & he deserves all the kudos that will inevitably be thrown his way. Previously known as the ‘Loan Ranger’, Tone has finally been granted a modest transfer kitty by friend & chairman Peter Coates(Bet365), & despite spending a record breaking £3.5million on players this season, the money he has recouped on sales such as Danny Higginbottom (£2.5mill to Sunderland – who else!) means he’s still £370,000 in the green. Furthermore, in his last tenure as Stoke manager, Pulis managed to make profits of £1.15million. No wonder himself & the chairman are such good friends. Keane for the record is £41.42million (& people give Benitez stick!) in the red in just 2 seasons at Sunderland, & I am not in the least bit surprised himself & big Quinny don’t get along.
Pulis, is not quite in the Wenger mould, nevertheless, Tone is the quintessential modern day manager, who understands the realities of running a club such as Stoke City. Whilst Sunderland’s return to top flight was quick-fix, tempestuous & dramatic, Stoke’s revival has been more steady & pragmatic. His team reminds me a lot of Tony Waddington’s (Stoke legend) teams of the seventies. He too, assembled a team of strays, cast-offs, past-its & also-rans, & mixed them with young talent (like Pejic & Hudson), & his strategies earned him huge success (winning the league cup in 1972). Tone’s side may well be a little more workmanlike than they were in the ‘Waddo Years’, owing much to his military background, but by incorporating flair players into his team such as Fuller & Lawrence, Pulis, like Waddington, has achieved a similar balance; & this has been key to the club’s recent success.
In short, on deadline day Stoke signed a young promising Irishman, wouldn’t it be ironic if he, along with 2 other Irishmen whom Keane cast aside, were the reasons behind Stoke City’s promotion. And wouldn’t it be poetic justice if it was Sunderland we replaced & this time it was they who were relegated? This is in no way any form of schadenfreude, it’s more like retribution, albeit after waiting 128 years for it to be exacted.
Keane, more than anybody, knows that success is born from adversity, & it’s for this reason, together with how much it means to the fans, that I am so desperate for Stoke to get promoted. And if my dreams are realised, we reach the PL, & we also sign a few more Irish players; I wonder if, whilst watching my beloved Stoke City live on Sky Sports in an Irish alehouse, I’ll be sitting alone? Or will I be joined by a bunch of brogues, all shouting for the mighty Potters?
It was Valentine’s Day last Thursday, and love was certainly in the air.
The previous night, Everton surpassed everyone’s expectations once again with a record sixth straight win, albeit in the UEFA Cup but we are doing well. Hopefully this week’s home leg will see us progress towards a much harder test against Fiorentina or Rosenberg, whilst continuing to challenge for a Champions League qualifying place… you can but dream.
I actually missed Wednesday’s match, and went for a romantic meal instead. It felt strange, detached almost, but it was nice to not get stressed and drunk in front of a screen… I did it in front of my girlfriend instead. Only joking, we had a lovely time and it got even better when my dad contacted me with the final score. And, her dad had sky plussed it so I managed to watch it the following evening. But I liked the fact that such a small gesture meant a lot and it’s something that I’m sure will happen more and more in the future. Priorities should change over time. What’s scary is how missing a match for someone you love somehow feels like a betrayal or two-timing, and that such an act might somehow have had an effect on a match taking place thousands of miles away.
Many relationships are said to flounder as a result of football. Nick Hornby expressed this much better than I ever could, in Fever Pitch, and the adaptation to baseball for the movie ‘The Perfect Catch’ encapsulates even better the conflicts that can come when two worlds collide. There’s even a scene when the main character avoids a big match to accompany his girl to a party, which my own pre-Valentine’s evening echoed. He admits he had the time of his life, though then holds it against her when he finds out he missed a pivotal comeback.
Love, however, is the key. Many fans insist their attraction to and support of a club is down to love, and being a fan does evoke many similar emotions. Disappointment, sheer happiness, excitement, expense, betrayal… The Great Dome Howard Kendall once explained his return to Everton as a marriage, whilst Manchester City was a love affair, and in real terms, not a week seems to go by without a player involved in some love cheat story or on field celebration scandal. My recent favourites do not involve Ashley Cole, instead, the aptly named Brazilian Vagner Love’s leaked film, and a wholly unromantic incident involving a glove wearing right back and a friend of a friend.
We regularly have players kissing the badge, supporters’ chants declaring their love for their club, demands for heart and soul, anger at ‘betrayal’ and some fans’ support even bordering on an obsession. The passion and intensity of certain occasions or even an exciting glorious climax, often inspire the interview question ‘what’s better, scoring a goal or having sex?’ to which I suppose you’d have to have done both in front of forty thousand people to know.
Another good example is probably all the fans who invade pitches to hug their heroes and try to grab their shirts. Phil Neville tried his best to stop this happening in Bergen, but is it understandable given the fans’ devotion and pleasure? This reminded me of a recent Morrissey concert, said girlfriend was shocked at the lengths fans were going to, to grab their hero’s hand or even better, hug him on stage. Over-eager/aggressive security guards meant that this homo-erotic occasion was soured somewhat by seeing grown men thrown off stage like rag dolls, or fighting each other over a sweaty shirt thrown into a crowd.
But if we are talking of beauty, hope, feel good stories of fairytale proportions, every round it seems the FA Cup will provide. Think of the competition as a E-On sponsored Cilla Black (why she features in more than one of my articles is indeed a surprise), matching up prospective couples in the hope she will have to buy a hat.
It would be ignorant and churlish of me not to mention Oldham, but we are used to such aberrations at Goodison particularly under Moyes. I for one still love him, in a different way of course. This year though, the exploits of Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield, Havant & Waterlooville and of course you guessed it Barnsley have all conjured up notions of roses and hearts, dreams and tears, and above all else the romance of the cup.
Fans’ demonstrations and banners hint at a more religious devotion, which will not be discussed here. Rather than focus on the Reds’ bad luck (?) against Toby Tyke et al, I will instead return to another recent disappointment the Blues suffered. The defeats against Chelsea were inevitable once the normally impeccable Joleon Lescott let SWP out-jump him, but even during the home leg we dared to dream that this could just be the evening that football returned to its roots and the original blue millionaires won through. Many in the ground that night had seen us at Wembley but a whole generation of fans across the country have never seen anyone other than the old Big Four win the FA Cup and even the Milk/Littlewoods/Rumbelows/Coca-Cola/Carling Cup during their own individual love affairs with football clubs.
I felt terrible that night because I’d forgotten to wear the pin badge my ‘true’ love gave to me for Christmas. Somehow I attributed the absent-mindedness to losing a semi-final, when in reality we all realised that they were just the better team. Successful, positive relationships are all about responding to situations and learning from them, moving onwards and upwards, which perhaps also explains why so many people are keen to go back and try to rekindle a light that has already gone out.
Perhaps this is another analogy for love and football – many fans, and partners, often look on enviously at other teams or players and wish longingly that they had that success, style, or pride, or in some cases that former objects of affection were still theirs, or will be again one day, before grudgingly accepting what they actually have.
Believe me, it’s much better in fact to celebrate your own love, whatever problems one has to be mindful of, and put everything possible into it, because then the rewards are much greater. Whether that means in football or in life, make sure you choose the right one.
Whats going on in League two? Take a look at the table that shows the home and away records of the teams, and you’d think it was printed the wrong way round. The remarkable fact is that 15 of the 24 sides have better or equal away records compared to their home!
So were going to highlight the best picks this week…..
All Prices from Bet 365
MK Dons @ Barnet = 10-11
Now, Barnet beat The Dons back in January to end Paul Ince’s sides 9 match unbeaten run with a shock 1-0 win, and MK have struggled since. However their last 2 games has pointed to an upturn in form, with a 1-0 win at Swansea in the cup and a 3-3 draw at home to Shrewsbury, in which they raced into a 3 goal lead. Barnet on the other hand have lost 4 on the trot and are struggling at the foot of the table with only 4 home wins all season.
Stockport @ Accrington = 13-10
County have been in fine form of late (barring last weeks reverse to Bury when their keeper was sent off and replaced with an outfield player) with the noticeable emergence of youngster Tommy Rowe. They have won their last 5 away games, and beat Stanley 2-0 in the reverse fixture in January. Accrington have lost 7 of the last 9 and like Barnet have only won 4 at home all season, and are shipping goals of late.
Goalscorer Tip = Tommy Rowe 17-2 First Goal, 14-5 Anytime
Peterborough @ Macclesfield Town = Evens
Posh travel to The Moss Rose unbeaten in the league in six, since Macc upset the form book in January at London Road. Since then Macc have only won once and that was away from home. Posh have 7 victories on the road to date, while Town have only 2 home wins all season.
Goalscorer Tip = Aaron McLean 5-1 First goal, 13-8 Anytime
Lincoln @ Rotherham = 11-4
The Imps are looking for their 5th successive away win at Milmoor this weekend, whist also looking for their 6th win on the bounce. They face a Rotherham side who’s form is denting their promotion push, with only 2 wins in their last 8. The home and away stats don’t match up to the previously tipped fixtures, but Lincoln are flying at the moment and are to good to pass up at 11-4.
Hereford @ Shrewsbury = 6-4
The Bulls travel to Shrewsbury with 1700 fans in tow, as they go in search of their 5th win on the trot at Oteley Road on Saturday. On loan Dutch striker Sherjill MacDonald has hit 6 in 3 since joing from West Brom and his partnership with fellow loanee Gary Hooper is looking fruitful. The Shrews have won just once in eight games with 3 home defeats in that time, and have slipped into mid tabel obscurity, while Hereford are looking good in 2nd place for an automatic promotion spot.
Goalscorer Tip = Sherjill MacDonald First goal 9-2, Anytime 6-4
Darlington @ Bury = 6-5
The Quakers entertain The Shakers at Gigg Lane this weekend, and were looking for another travelling side to take the spoils. Darlington have won 3 of their last 4 away fixtures, with 9 wins on the road in total. Bury meanwhile have 3 home wins all season and haven’t won at home in the league since mid November! The reverse fixture ended 3-0 to The Quakers in January and although the visitors have 3 strikers out through suspension and injury, they can still sneak a win here and carry on their push for promotion.
Obviously all the press has been for Munich in the build up to the match, with the red tops especially seemingly wanting even just one City ‘Fan’ to spoil the silence so they can castigate all of the travelling blues. Away from all that there is still a football match, and its a shame there are major suspensions for both sides with Evra, Rooney, Corluka and Elano missing the game, which will reduce the quality on show. City will line up 4-5-1 with new boy Benjani leading the line, and they will hope to keep in tight and hit United on the break. However City’s midfield has been over run of late, they are sorely missing Michael Johnson, and i feel this is where United will take command. Ronaldo should start up top with Tevez and its hard to oppose him to score in 90 minutes.
I expect the game to be tighter than many think, the Blues have drawn 4 of their last 6 at Old Trafford, but ultimately United’s pressure will tell.
United -1 = 5-6 @ Bl Sq, PP, SJ
Ronaldo to score in 90 minutes = Evens @ Boylesport
HT Draw FT United = 7-2 @ Bl Sq, VC Bet, Lads
Correct Score = 2-0 = 11-2 @ Bl Sq
Chelsea V Liverpool
These two sides have built up a modern day rivalry due to play each other an astonishing 16 times in the past 4 seasons, and Liverpool have lost the last 4 times they have visited SW3, including 2-0 in the Carling cup this season. Add to that Liverpool’s shocking away form this season, including losing the last 4, and Torres being injured it’s hard not to see another Chelsea win here.
Correct score 1-0 or 2-0 = 6-1 and 15-2 respectively @ Coral
HT Draw FT Chelsea = 4-1 @ Bet 365
Arsenal V Blackburn
Adebayor continues to go from strength to strength for the Gunners, what a player Wenger has turned him into. Blackburn arrive at the Emirates with defensive problems, with Samba out, and Nelsen and Oojier both major doubts, also out are midfield duo Pedersen and Dunn. With such a depleted side i can’t see anything other than a home win. Arsenal will possibly have to play Silva at centre half and Lehman will continue for the ill Almunia, but that should not disrupt the system.
Well it came in again and this time it was tipped. The big three all obliged by winning by 1, 2 or 3-0, bagging us a monster treble of 357-1 @ Bet 365.
Bet 365 went 15-2 Arsenal 3-0, 6-1 Man Utd 2-0, 5-1 Chelsea 1-0. All firms were roughly the same give or take a point.
Will it come in again this week? Well it’s certainly worth a punt, but all 3 have difficult away trips to Man City, Tottenham and Portsmouth. Spurs look the most likely of the opposition to score and i think it is highly likely to happen in a fixture that always produces goals at White Hart Lane. The other 2 could well come in though, with Man City and Portsmouth both struggling in front of goal of late.
The column also tipped a double of Adebayor (7-2) and Ronaldo (10-3) to score first goal, which paid out 19.5-1. Hope some of you were on!
This weeks selected 3 teams to perm in win to nil trebles are;
Inter to beat Empoli 2, 3 or 4-0
Juventus to beat Cagliari 2, 3 or 4-0
Barcelona to beat Osasuna 1, 2 or 3-0
Weekend Accy
I felt it only right this week to predict an accumulator in the column, after the news that a Sheffield punter got 31 correct results right, in what William Hills are saying is a world record. The punters £1 accy took in 31 teams to win over 11 divisions which returned 6800-1!
Arsenal 4-5 away at Man City
City’s form has slipped of late as they struggle to maintain there early season form. The lack of a top class striker has meant they have been highly profligate in front of goal, with Vassell being the main culprit. It means at the moment that if the defence slip up and concede, City don’t win matches. The last such occasion was the win over Bolton before Christmas. Arsenal meanwhile, go from strength to strength (discounting the 2nd string against Spurs) and with Adebayor adding a different dimension to Arsenal’s attack, it’s hard to see them not scoring at present. 1-0 Arsenal (6-1 at most firms)
Villa 5-4 away at Fulham
Fulham are really struggling now, and Roy Hodgson has recruited half a new team to combat their downward spiral. Villa on the other hand are playing well and with the England lads called up midweek will be full of confidence. With only one loss on the road this season it is another good chance for 3 points. 2-1 Villa (17-2 @ Sporting Bet)
Real Madrid 4-6 away at Almeria (Saturday)
Madrid are on a run of 8 consecutive wins but face in form side Almeria on Saturday. The newly promoted minnows have won their last 3 games one nil to climb up to the brink of a UEFA Cup spot. Madrid have looked solid at the back under Schuster and with them scoring in every game in the league since the 2-0 defeat to Sevilla on November 3rd, i take them to to come away with another 3 points. 1-0 Madrid (13-2 @ Sporting Bet)
Roma 4-6 away to Seina (Sunday)
The Romans are in winning mode, with 5 wins on the spin in Serie A. They travel to relegation threatened Seina on Sunday (Live on 5) looking to put the squeeze on Inter. Mancini has returned to form of late and they should have too much for spirited Seina. 1-0 Roma (11-2 @ Coral)
Ivory Coast 2-5 to beat Guinea (Monday)
The Elephants should overcome the Syli Nationale in this Quarter Final clash. Drogba et al have won all 3 games so far and they have only reached 3rd gear. Guniea will not roll over, as Ghana found in the opening game, but the quality of the finishing will be the difference here. 3-1 Ivory Coast (11-1 Blue-Sq). Drogba first goal (7-2 Coral)
Perm in 5 four folds (minimum 10-1) and one Accumulator (14-1 @ Bet 365)
First Goal and Anytime Goalscorer
Adebayor (9-2), Ronaldo (5-1) and Drogba (10-3) -Doubles and Trebles @ Paddy Power
Head and shoulders above everyone this month (well with the exception of Ronaldo), in more ways than one. We all heard the stories about him raising the string, well Adebayor has this month raised the bar in the perfect centre forward standards. 4 superbly headed goals this month highlighted not only his supreme physical prowess but also the Togolese’s near faultless technique & all round gamut of a world class striker. His rich vein of form & goals, which in January were spectacular, could propel Arsenal to title glory. To say Kenwyn Jones - who is turning into an established PL centre forward - is a ‘Poor Man’s Adebayor’ is paying the Sunderland player a huge compliment.
The EFP Young Player Of The Month
Daniel Sturridge (Man City)
Chosen ahead of Ronaldo (whom, despite his tender years can no longer be considered for this category) even though he has only played one & a half games for City & has only burst onto the scene in the last week. But, on account of the excitement generated by his 2 goals in 2 games record; not witnessed since the Theo Walcott hoax, Sturridge has to be awarded this award as a preparatory to stardom, if that’s where he’s heading? His finish at Sheff Utd suggests he has the ability & at Derby he showed all the predatory instincts & composure needed to become a top PL striker. He’s proven he can produce the goods at youth level & it looks like he’s taking to the senior team like a duck to water.
The EFP Manager Of The Month
Avram Grant (Chelsea)
It is surely time Grant is given credit for what he is currently achieving at Chelsea, as he continues to shape this team, post-Mourinho. And it is Mourinho’s club record of 9 straight wins which Grant’s Chelsea have just equalled, as well as maintaining an ‘untouchable’ unbeaten home record, which has lasted an incredible 4 years. With the “sexy football” further away from the Bridge than Ruud Gullit is from a return to PL management, an abundance of 1-0 wins have not always been pretty, but Chelsea are the PL’s form team, & Avram should receive at least some recognition for this.
The EFP Team Of The Month
The EFP Goal Of The Month
The EFP Quote Of The Month
“The match for them is a bit like people down south going to the theatre. They want to be entertained.”
(Kevin Keegan tells it like it is on Tyneside)
The EFP Chant Of The Month
“They Don’t Care About Rafa
They Don’t Care About Fans
Liverpool Football Club
Is in the Wrong Hands”
It was the moment we had all been waiting for. And much more besides. Stoke City took on Preston at Deepdale on Tuesday night, in what was the 101st meeting between two of England’s most prestigious clubs. It was league leaders against a club fighting for survival, old masters versus –hopefully - the new. It was a blustery evening in the northwest, on a heavily waterlogged pitch & a typically open night in the Championship.
Rushing back from work, I was desperate to purchase something, apart from ale, that would get me in the mood for the 12th from last game of the season. I decided, as I was not at the match, in Ireland even, I would try to recreate the conditions as though I were actually there - a sort of antidote for my recent bout of home-sickness. Of course, the friendly looking young girl behind the bakery counter looked at me quizzically when I asked her for a savoury meat & potato pie, so I decided to refrain from asking my 2nd question of “got any Wrights?”(Realising I was clutching at straws with this one!). I left dejected, but not defeated.
The game kicked-off & I could hear a buoyant travelling support in the background. I went through the usual list emotions: “why aren’t I there”, “I’m missing out again” & “I know we can do this”. After a bright start, we were immediately put on the back foot, as Preston showed us their credentials. I didn’t expect this to be an easy game - despite their precarious league position -after experiencing some tough battles with Preston in recent years (most memorably when they beat us 4-3 at the start of season 02/03 - with none other than Cresswell scoring the winner in injury-time for the North-Enders). Moreover, despite being in the relegation zone, they’d recorded some pretty impressive results this season, including; homes wins against Watford (& a recent draw away) & Brazil (aka West Brom), & also performed an FA Cup demo-job on Championship bound Derby. They are indeed a team who deserved respect & we were duly obliging… 
The crowd continued to show their support & we heard our first (impressive) rendition of ‘Delilah’. The atmosphere in those early stages, I have to say, sounded electric & I dearly wished I was there in person soaking up the atmosphere. They responded with an ‘olé olé olé olé’ of their own after doing well to retain possession. Tony Gayle - the Sky correspondent for this game - was making long ball jibes all-night long (& will always find an ally in Paul Merson – who bizarrely has an axe to grind with Stoke) & suggested Preston wanted it far more. I begged to differ. The ex-pro (in case you weren’t aware) would later wind-me-up further when accusing Lawrence of “over-playing it” with ‘that’ chance, making the wise crack: “you won’t hear that said about Stoke too often” (very original!). I can now see why he writes for The Sun… 
Nevertheless, it’s important we learn form this & we learn our lesson quickly. In this division, resting on one’s laurels is not an option & Pulis has to find a solution to our wayward finishing & nervous defence, if we are to achieve promotion. Last season Sunderland persistently added to their squad right until the end, adding to areas where they needed to improve. The signing of Stern John added fresh impetuous to their attack & he in-turn added some vital goals in their run-in. Despite Sidibe playing a pivotal role in our success this term & him being an un-sung hero of this team (a concept which a Guardian journo failed to grasp in midweek), IMO we do need more variation to our play, & more importantly, another goalscorer to come in alongside Fuller. We have to keep improving & keep progressing, or else, as Bob Dylan once put it – we will certainly start to sink like a stone. 
These are intriguing times in football. Already in 2008; there has been the return of ‘King Kev’ - to the delight of the masses on Tyneside (and rightfully predicted by your humble narrator), an Italian taking charge of England, & another much older & wiser (say the Irish) one taking charge of Ireland (in what has surely been the longest appointment process of all-time), they even planned to play the PL abroad – with an absurd ‘39th game proposal’. There is also Keano’s Irish revolution happening up at Sunderland, who incidentally, have become embroiled in one of the most exciting relegation battles in PL history. But for me, the most invigorating story in football at present is the rise of my beloved Stoke City to the summit of the Championship; whom after years of suffering & degradation find themselves on the verge of top flight football once again. And I have never been more excited.
When I moved to Ireland, any hopes of watching my team regularly had relinquished; fearful I had condemned myself to a life of listening to Stoke City on the radio via the internet, but for an annual FA Cup exit that may or may not be televised. Or, I may be lucky enough to occasionally watch the mighty Potters live on Sky Sports in the back room of a deserted Irish pub, as I listlessly attempted to explain to a polite-but-uninterested fella, where exactly Stoke-on-Trent is (closer to Manchester than Birmingham), who indeed comes from there (the Captain of the Titanic), & how important the Potteries used to be (pre-Thatcher). And this of course, would be on condition no Rugby or Gaelic matches - with any whiff of significance – were not on another channel; or that SUNDERLAND were not on Setanta, in which case, I’d have to indiscreetly & shamelessly watch the game in the stink of the bookies.
IMO Stoke are the Sunderland of the Championship this season; minus the Irish bandwagon – those which mysteriously came out of the woodwork last season, swearing blind they had followed the Black Cats since the days of Gabbiadini (classy goalscorer from 80’s & early 90’s) & the legend that was John Byrne (not so great goal-getter with 22 Caps for Eire). Stoke do not just adopt a similar style of football as Sunderland, possess their never-say-die spirit, or simply share the same workmanlike qualities as the Wear-siders; Stoke embody a je ne sais quoi, reminiscent of Roy Keane’s team last term, which ultimately won them promotion.
But it’s two other Irish midfielders, whom Keane atypically decided to let go, that have been the biggest factor in Stoke’s remarkable run of form. Lawrence (£500,000 & scored 13 goals this season) & Delap (free & player of the season IMHO) have been Stoke’s two outstanding performers this season & a clear indication of Tone’s (as he’s affectionately known on the Potteries) shrewdness in the transfer market. If Stoke do get promoted, Stokies will be eternally grateful to Keane for gifting them with these two gemstones.
Pulis, is not quite in the Wenger mould, nevertheless, Tone is the quintessential modern day manager, who understands the realities of running a club such as Stoke City. Whilst Sunderland’s return to top flight was quick-fix, tempestuous & dramatic, Stoke’s revival has been more steady & pragmatic. His team reminds me a lot of Tony Waddington’s (Stoke legend) teams of the seventies. He too, assembled a team of strays, cast-offs, past-its & also-rans, & mixed them with young talent (like Pejic & Hudson), & his strategies earned him huge success (winning the league cup in 1972). Tone’s side may well be a little more workmanlike than they were in the ‘Waddo Years’, owing much to his military background, but by incorporating flair players into his team such as Fuller & Lawrence, Pulis, like Waddington, has achieved a similar balance; & this has been key to the club’s recent success.
Love, however, is the key. Many fans insist their attraction to and support of a club is down to love, and being a fan does evoke many similar emotions. Disappointment, sheer happiness, excitement, expense, betrayal… The Great Dome Howard Kendall once explained his return to Everton as a marriage, whilst Manchester City was a love affair, and in real terms, not a week seems to go by without a player involved in some love cheat story or on field celebration scandal. My recent favourites do not involve Ashley Cole, instead, the aptly named Brazilian Vagner Love’s leaked film, and a wholly unromantic incident involving a glove wearing right back and a friend of a friend.
Another good example is probably all the fans who invade pitches to hug their heroes and try to grab their shirts. Phil Neville tried his best to stop this happening in Bergen, but is it understandable given the fans’ devotion and pleasure? This reminded me of a recent Morrissey concert, said girlfriend was shocked at the lengths fans were going to, to grab their hero’s hand or even better, hug him on stage. Over-eager/aggressive security guards meant that this homo-erotic occasion was soured somewhat by seeing grown men thrown off stage like rag dolls, or fighting each other over a sweaty shirt thrown into a crowd.
Fans’ demonstrations and banners hint at a more religious devotion, which will not be discussed here. Rather than focus on the Reds’ bad luck (?) against Toby Tyke et al, I will instead return to another recent disappointment the Blues suffered. The defeats against Chelsea were inevitable once the normally impeccable Joleon Lescott let SWP out-jump him, but even during the home leg we dared to dream that this could just be the evening that football returned to its roots and the original blue millionaires won through. Many in the ground that night had seen us at Wembley but a whole generation of fans across the country have never seen anyone other than the old Big Four win the FA Cup and even the Milk/Littlewoods/Rumbelows/Coca-Cola/Carling Cup during their own individual love affairs with football clubs.
Peterborough @ Macclesfield Town = Evens
Ivory Coast 2-5 to beat Guinea (Monday)
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Head and shoulders above everyone this month (well with the exception of Ronaldo), in more ways than one. We all heard the stories about him raising the string, well Adebayor has this month raised the bar in the perfect centre forward standards. 4 superbly headed goals this month highlighted not only his supreme physical prowess but also the Togolese’s near faultless technique & all round gamut of a world class striker. His rich vein of form & goals, which in January were spectacular, could propel Arsenal to title glory. To say Kenwyn Jones - who is turning into an established PL centre forward - is a ‘Poor Man’s Adebayor’ is paying the Sunderland player a huge compliment.
Chosen ahead of Ronaldo (whom, despite his tender years can no longer be considered for this category) even though he has only played one & a half games for City & has only burst onto the scene in the last week. But, on account of the excitement generated by his 2 goals in 2 games record; not witnessed since the Theo Walcott hoax, Sturridge has to be awarded this award as a preparatory to stardom, if that’s where he’s heading? His finish at Sheff Utd suggests he has the ability & at Derby he showed all the predatory instincts & composure needed to become a top PL striker. He’s proven he can produce the goods at youth level & it looks like he’s taking to the senior team like a duck to water.
