Saturday 11 December 2010

It's been a while, I have a lot to say.

Hello how I have missed expressing my thoughts on football.

I will apologise later but I am going to rant no player is bigger than the club, Rooney you’re in a lot of debt I still dislike Ronaldo to this day for how he went about the move to Madrid. I understand as much as anybody that we don’t look capable of attracting talent anymore but lets be honest City and Chelsea only can because they have more money than sense and I don’t want mercenaries at my club. I would have been quite happy for you to walk take your pick of the clubs you wanted to I would not of cared and I still don’t I could right a list of request so that you can be forgiven but you won’t be loved like Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Keane or King Cantona.
More importantly you will never be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Charlton, Best, Law, Ferguson or Busby as United legends at least never by me. You may go on to make me neutral but your actions disgraced you and the club and disrespected Sir Alex Ferguson and the likes of Giggs, Scholes and Neville. These players have served the club for years and know more than most to not question the gaffer! He has overseen the changes you could not imagine and he no doubt would of seen it as an easy task to move on without a dummy thrower. Your lack of faith will have knocked player’s confidence and I get the feeling that Jonny Evans may have taken the biggest hit he kept Drogba in his pocket and since you couldn’t shut up he has been a disaster. Leave the questioning of the manager and his signings and youth potential in our young squad to that of the plastic fans who know nothing of the history and passion Sir Alex has for the game. We as a club have pulled you from the depths of granny fanny before just because you have dived into younger muff didn’t mean we had to show you the same forgiveness. I am sure in the next few years you will fully appreciate Fergusons input and his ability to bring the best out in players you will no doubt receive medals but I will appreciate those who contributed without questionings input so much more.

Above was suppose to be a short rant about Rooney being a disappointment I got carried away. Anyway onto fun stuff:

Ok so I haven’t really done this as much as I would like, but I feel now just before the Arsenal game is perfect timing. The season has been a rollercoaster, I grew frustrated with our continued desire to throw points away and it was beginning to infuriate me that a previously strong defence couldn’t tell their arse from their elbow.
            Some how some way however we are sitting in second with a game in hand with only 1 point gap to leaders Arsenal, Arsenal are still the team of lightweights they have always been despite everyone raving. Their style is good to watch but why not just shoot or cross? Evra said this week that Arsenal was a training camp, I can’t help but agree train them up sell them on only Bendtner, Song and Co wouldn’t be good enough for any other Championship contenders.
            My favourite thing though about this season so far is my predictions look good, apart from the Gerrard part that was looking good until Liverpool got smashed by Newcastle today which means “STEVEN GERRARD MAN” will no doubt return to the starting line up without a second thought. In other good news though Berbatov has been on fire and Wilshere has broken into the first team at Arsenal (nb This could be down to Fabregas having a hamstring made of mushy peas)
            Bringing me onto Newcastle what a joke of a club they are, today was a false dawn it was the players tribute to their favoured manager nothing to do with an inexperienced Pardew. Newcastle have been superb this season, Hughton was starting to change my opinion over the magpies the team I despised most because he added some humility to them. Pardew instantly drew an aura of joke stating Newcastle were one of the top 5 teams in the country not quite sure where  he stops counting the teams he rates but I would guess it’s somewhere below Hull.
            I said in my very first blog Chelsea would collapse under age, well without counting my chickens it looks good Terry is more fragile than a new born baby, Lampard has been proven to be the driving force. It was only so long until time caught up with London Blue as PES calls them. They can say injuries caused it but we had the same issue last season except our problem was it attacked our entire defence so stop bitching already and go pay money for David Luiz cause he unlike Terry is not a thug.
            Speaking of PES it’s been a while since I got so wrapped up in the game I had been playing through my Master league season getting frustrated with my inability to break teams down and then lacklustre defending in the last minutes costing me points. However after losing to Chelsea in the league, going out of the European cup to Liverpool I grew angry and turned it off, UNTIL! Well my next game was Liverpool in the league and I was stunned to find I could suddenly score again and smashed them 4-1 in game 31, with 7 games left I was in 6th place and 10 points adrift of top devastated but still that win changed a lot. Mainly I was encouraged by the fact I had pegged back Liverpool and still had Arsenal and top of the table Man City to play. I continued my run against the likes of Stoke, and came to the 3rd last game of the season against Spurs I struggled to break them down but blitz them in the 80th minute to win 2 nil and then Arsenal for game 37, the performance was sensational and a 4 nil win encouraged me especially when I found out going into the final game of the season against Man City they had been pegged back and I had climbed to top two points clear and a superior Goal difference a draw would be enough funnily though after a bit of a delay I took them to school and scored in the 89th minute to secure equalise and snatch a superb recover in the last 8 games. I had been bit by the best football game around again, I was disappointed though to find that my moment was to be celebrated alone as my girlfriend has fallen asleep clearly not understanding the utter importance of the moment. Still I was beyond happy and struggled to sleep as I went off to bed, I went from angry against Chelsea and Liverpool to delight at the impressive demolitions that were suddenly occurring. So I am going to plug PES because I have never been so challenged by a football game except when I originally switched to this is football and couldn’t get used to square being shot. This game has played with my emotions mainly Anger, frustrations and Delight.
            On to real life I will endeavour to write about the Arsenal game but I will be very busy in work before I go home for Christmas (favourite time of year) especially since I have sky tv at home, so I can have a few cans and watch the boxing day games unfold without any hassle.  

If I don’t write before then have a good one!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Noel


            

Thursday 2 September 2010

Three Games In and my pet hate of International Breaks has come again

Ok, it’s been a bit longer than I would have imagined to the second instalment but much has happened and changed that has delayed the process of this blog. The blog was delayed because I had to go home for a few days and then also I had to move to Leeds for my new job which is a bit exciting really especially since I have moved in with my Girlfriend a big step but one that I am enjoying. Now onto the football the reason I started writing the blog and a lot has happened in the football world.
Namely a transfer window deadline day dominated by Stoke and Birmingham who would of thought it. On the other hand the big move of the day has to be Liam Boyce Cliftonville to Werder Bremen, in terms of rises that one should be beside meteoric rise in the dictionary. As for signing of the window, well I am going to have to go with Joe Cole even if he is in my top 3 hated players he is good. Although special mention goes to Cardiff for getting my most hated player Bellamy even if I think it is unfair on the rest of the championship. Ok so I wrote this originally just after the transfer window shut but Spurs have pulled of a major coup in Rafael Van Der Vaart, He is a real quality player and he will vastly improve their midfield. However I see an issue being that they have a Trolley load of midfielders Van Der Vaart, Bentley, Huddlestone, Modric, Palicious, O’Hara, Lennon, Jenas, Kranjcar, Rose and Sandro by my count that’s 11 players last time I checked you could only have 11 players on the pitch. It is not a choice I envy for Harry a lot of talent could potentially go to waste, although Jenas was once an England international.
            Ok so my predictions for relegation are the perennial yo yo club West Brom it’s a bit of a personal vendetta really I truly hate West Brom as a club I don’t know why other than their inability to spot their weakness each time they come up and go down. The second prediction is Wigan they are too hit and miss and will be well and truly lost this season, Martinez is good but not quite yet ready for the Premiership given the chance this experience will help him as a manager. My last shout is Blackpool as much as I hate to say it they have done a fantastic job so far but they just don’t have the numbers or the quality to last the pace and will be relegated in the final spot they will go down fighting though.
My prediction has however been slightly destroyed due to Chelsea’s incredible start. Chelsea have had a super start to the season but that was in my eyes going to happen because of the criticism they have received after the Charity Shield. Also their opposition wasn’t exactly fantastic so why people are claiming it is getting boring? I have an issue with this because when Spurs smashed Wigan last season it was because they were at their best, but if Chelsea does it to West Brom the league is losing its appeal a bit backwards in my eyes.
            This season is starting to look like a different league with different people, Berbatov for example has somehow worked out how to score and play a part in games. Newcastle hammered Aston Villa with a superb display I was never so glad to see a Newcastle win because Joey Barton with his moustache made MOTD difficult TV viewing.  Spurs fans are now Liverpool fans believing this is their year, as Chris Kamara would say “It’s unbelievable Jeff”.
            I am enjoying the season so far it seems competitive and also that there is a few shocks in store namely Spurs fans being put in their place by Wigan, If the start is anything to go by it should be fun with a few shocks in store good for everyone then. So based off how the season has gone so far am going to make a few more outrageous predictions:

1.      Berbatov will play a part in more than 30 goals this season (Scoring + Assists)
2.      Steven Gerrard will be dropped for lack of form
3.      Jack Wilshere will actually get double figure for Arsenal in appearances (Most Outrageous)
           

My next blog will be about the International Break not the games mainly the complete stupidity of it all.

Take it easy,
Noel 

Thursday 19 August 2010

First Blog introduction and Opinion on 1st to 7th

Hi,

Well I sit here bored watching the Liverpool game, boredom though has gave birth to an idea! I love my football and like to keep as up to date as possible on most football news from the premiership to Europe. A bit of background am Noel, am originally from Derry in Northern Ireland. I am a Manchester United fan always have been and always will be but believe I have quite an unbiased opinion when it comes to other clubs. This is where the idea comes in am going to give my thoughts as often as possible on the Premiership as a whole and any big things in Europe. However for now am going to start this new blog talking about the contenders and giving my reason behind what I think.

I will start with United and my prediction for Premiership winners, my completely honest opinion is I think we are strong enough to win any of the available trophies this year but believe that number 19 will be obtained this year. Purely because if we keep our defenders fit (Rio is exempt from that I don’t reckon we will see him or Hargreaves play again) then we will easily come home with more points. I think the acquisitions SAF has made unlike many other supporters are wise and I to have faith in the likes of Nani, Macheda and co to deliver if they don’t well we move onto the next bunch. We have three players added together who break the 100 years of age barrier but they are there now as much for the passing of the torch as they are to play although Scholes seems to have other plans. I believe they will want to go out on a high and I am fully preparing myself for a transition period in the years after this. As for now number 19, comes home.

Ok and now for my second place prediction well that would be Arsenal, I see a coming of age ahead for the Gunners and I would say it’s about time to. Since the last time they lifted the premiership, we as supporters have ahead to listen to the endless crap spouted by Arsenal fans. They fully believe they are the best team in the country best passing team maybe, but when you can’t stand up to a challenge it’s pointless there is no point in spanking Everton one week only to draw with West Brom the next. However I do believe they are starting to show a bit of steel although my everlasting picture of Fabregas will be him doing a measuring up sign to the ref after bringing Drogba down and I believe they will bring the FA cup to the Emirates.

It gets shady now am literally not sure it would be between Liverpool and Chelsea for third and fourth and normal service will be resumed at the top. I am going to take a punt on Liverpool solely because they have nothing to lose after last season and I can see it being very close at the top. If they can keep Torres, Gerrard and Cole in the same line-up then they have a real threat, Just hope that the defence show a bit of form again namely Carragher and Liverpool are a guarantee to be top 4 again. Anyway it won’t actually matter they got rid of their own poison and I believe sacking Rafa was needed he has a 5 year plan it failed and he wasted more money than any other manager on shocking sub standard players: Josemi, Kromkamp, Degen ring any bells. They wouldn’t play for the everlasting yo yo club West Brom never mind a top 4 team. So my Prediction for 3 is Liverpool.

The reason I think Chelsea will be down here is simply because the Champions League when it kicks in will be their primary focus why because Abramovich is the big Russian crook, note they may make it their main focus but they won’t win it by a long shot. I personally believe as well the legs of their ageing team will be done by March and I can’t Daniel Sturridge being the necessary foil to change that. Every other pundit says their Youngsters are better than anyone else’s am sorry you need to have the faith to throw them in there and then have faith in them to do the business in the pressure cooker that is the premiership run in. I think they will smash teams one week but will be caught out much like Arsenal in the past.

So the contenders well my prediction for fifth is Everton the quality they have at least in the first team is as good as anyone on their day and the spirit they have is second to none. Keep Arteta fit and Beckford will be a surprise package in the Premiership, Beckford lost his way towards the end at Leeds purely because he lost is head after scoring in the FA cup Moyes will correct that. The main reason is Moyes he is one of the most talented young managers in football, believe it or not Liverpool fans. He has a good tactical awareness and knows is players best positions inside out, which is why I believe they will be knocking on the door of fourth this season as long as injury does not get them again.

So to the last seasons 4 and 5, Spurs will be hit and miss although this could change depending on their European exploits. They are a talented bunch of players but talented as in talented average players not one apart from Modric which get into the big four, sorry to Lennon and Defoe you just don’t cut it in anyway shape or form for me it’s fine scoring 5 against Wigan no point if you don’t score for 2 months after. Spurs are a team I like to, I like Harry normally but he hasn’t shut up this summer about other teams business and players, sorry Harry there are ways and means and the media talk enough shit as it is. So it’s a sixth place finish for Harry’s men and the Carling cup to take home as a bonus.

And finally to City to round up the top 7, you can now say hello to the first manager to be sacked. Impossible job I would love to know who Mancini signed and who the owners are playing football manager with. Adebayor, Tevez, Toure Yaya and Ballotelli, have all at some point or another thrown the toys out of the pram because they weren’t playing well Ballotelli and Toure did it at Inter and Barca respectively what makes city fans think they will be happy on the light blue bench at the city of Manchester? Tevez and Adebayor are even worse, there is a football Diva at every club but very few clubs are there as many as city. Mancini will be back to Italy with his tail between his legs and Gary Cook will talk more crap about when not if they beat club in the semi final of Carling cup. The only praise I have for Mancini as of now is putting Joe Hart as number 1 however he also must let Shay Given play the remains of his career somewhere else anywhere. My last point and the main reason I reckon city will do so poorly is Toure Yaya, Barry, De Jong, Viera, Kompany and Milner (wasting your career) The only creative player in that is Milner the rest are people who pass the ball sideways are genuinely overrated most notably Barry I don’t see what others do mainly Rafa who chose an attempt for Barry over Alonso.

That’s my personal opinion on the top 7 and I invite you to give your view or express your opinions on what I have wrote, only if you’re up for a sensible football conversation though. Not just my teams better than yours bullshit.

Cheers,
Noel