8 out of 10 results went against me!

Actual results:

Saturday:
Sheffield 0 Chelsea 2
Arsenal 1 Everton 1
Bolton 0 Man U 4
Fulham 0 Wigan 1
Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 1
Portsmouth 3 Reading 1
Watford 0 Tottenham 0
Newcastle 0 Charlton 0
Sunday:
West Ham 2 Blackburn 1
Monday:
Man City 1 Middlesbrough 0

As you can see, my predictions for this weekend's matches were crap. Only 2 correct results. Hopefully I will do better next time.

You can read my reports here:
1. Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/chelsea-man-utd-and-liverpool-all-won.html
2. Arsenal vs Everton: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/negative-tactics-once-again-frustrated.html

Preview and Predictions for Round 10 of the Premiership

My Predictions:

Saturday:
Sheffield 0 Chelsea 3
Arsenal 2 Everton 0
Bolton 1 Man U 0
Fulham 0 Wigan 0
Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 1
Portsmouth 1 Reading 1
Watford 0 Tottenham 2
Newcastle 1 Charlton 0
Sunday:
West Ham 0 Blackburn 2
Monday:
Man City 2 Middlesbrough 2

I am going for a Bolton victory against Man U, and Liverpool ending Villa's unbeaten run.

You can read my thoughts on the upcoming matches here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/preview-and-predictions-for-round-10.html

Carling Cup round up (4th round)

Third Division Crewe almost upset Man U. If you ask me, Arsenal's youngsters were a lot more impressive than Man U's.

You can read my 4th round summary here:

Tuesday's fixtures: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/how-premiership-clubs-fared-in-carling.html

Wednesday's fixtures: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/how-premiership-clubs-fared-in-carling_25.html

Carling Cup: West Brom 0 Arsenal 2

The young Gunners showed plenty of potential. The future of Arsenal looks very rosy.

You can read my report of the match here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/carling-cup-jeremie-aliadiere-scored.html

Summary of Sunday's Premier League Fixtures

My Predictions for the weekend's fixtures:
Wigan Athletic 0 Man City 0
Charlton Athletic 2 Watford 0
Chelsea 0 Portsmouth 1
Everton 2 Sheffield United 0
Aston Villa 1 Fulham 0
Man Utd 0 Liverpool 1
Blackburn 1 Bolton 2
Middlesbrough 2 Newcastle 0
Tottenham 1 West Ham 0
Reading 0 Arsenal 2

Actual Results:
Wigan Athletic 4 Man City 0
Charlton Athletic 0 Watford 0
Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0
Everton 2 Sheffield Utd 0
Aston Villa 1 Fulham 1
Man Utd 2 Liverpool 0
Blackburn 0 Bolton 1
Middlesbrough 1 Newcastle 0
Tottenham 1 West Ham 0
Reading 0 Arsenal 4

So, out of 10 matches, I got 5 correct results including 2 perfect scorelines. Not as good as last week's predictions.

You can read my summary of Sunday's fixtures here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/summary-of-sundays-premier-league.html

Reading 0 Arsenal 4

The match was such a joy to watch! I do feel bad for Reading, as I went to school near Reading.

Not a single yellow card. It's probably Jose Mourinho's fault that Reading did not tackle as hard as they should have, and that suited us just fine. When we are allowed to actually play football (instead of getting kicked off the park), there isn't a team that is better. Fabregas was absolutely superb, and Hleb had a good game too. Theo Walcott came on for about 20 mins, talented as he is, but compare him to the more established first teamers, you can see his passes are not as precise. But he is still young, it's a good thing that Wenger is taking his time to develop him.

You can read my match report here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/arsenal-put-moscow-defeat-behind-them.html

Summary of Saturday's Premier League Fixtures 21 Oct 2006

Shevchenko finlly scored. Nothing too exciting.

Summary and results here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/summary-of-saturdays-premier-league.html

Preview of this weekend's Premiership fixtures

Man U vs Liverpool on Sunday is the big one.

You can read my preview and predictions here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/preview-of-this-weekends-premiership.html

Happy to see Fabregas commited to Arsenal

After the sickening Ashley (Cashley) Cole saga, I am so happy to hear that Fabregas has signed a new long term contract with us. Fabregas is an exremely important player, for now and for the future, and it is a huge boost for us that he has the sense to know that he needs the club as much as the club needs him.


Read my thoughts here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/cesc-fabregas-signed-new-8-year.html

Is Andriy Shevchenko wrong for Chelsea?

A few months ago, I couldn't believe that Chelsea finally lured Shevchenko away from AC Milan. I mean, I couldn't buy the guy even in my Championship Manager game. So well done Mr. Abramovich, you have once again proved to us that it is nice to have a lot of money.

Everyone thought that Shevchenko was going to be this scoring machine for Chelsea, but he has so far failed to impress. So what's wrong? Is the 30 year old striker too old to adapt to the Premiership? or is he simply too old? or is Chelsea's style of play too unsophisticated for a player like him?

You can read my thoughts here http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/is-andriy-shevchenko-wrong-for-chelsea.html

Chelsea 1 Barcelona 0

I don't like Drogba, not that many people do... but he is playing well, so that makes him even less likeable.

Jose Mourinho is at it again, accusing Reading that Cech was hurt intentionally by Hunt. What a wanker!

You can read my thoughts on the match here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/chelsea-won-as-stars-of-barcelona.html

Preview: Chelsea v Barcelona, Round 3

My second favorite team is taking on my second (well, they are slowly but surely closing in on the number 1 spot) most hated team. I think Barca are better, but as this is just a group stage match, it will probably be a draw. I'd love to see Chelsea draw Barca again in the knock out stage.

Read my longer preview here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/preview-of-chelsea-vs-barcelona.html

Arsenal lost and Man U won, not a good day....

I got the Man U result correct with the correct scoreline too, but I was totally wrong on the Arsenal match. CSKA Moscow, as expected, proved to be the toughest opponents we have to face in the group stage of the Champions League. The poor playing surface did not help, but the most frustrating thing was Henry's perfectly good goal was ruled out by the referee. Even though we did not play well, it still should have been a draw.

You can read my match report on the Man U match here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/man-utd-in-pole-position-to-qualify.html

and on the Arsenal match: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/dubious-referee-decisions-cost-arsenal.html

Preview of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League Fixtures

I am pissed off that ESPN is showing the Man U vs FC Copenhagen match, and not the Arsenal one. So many good matchups to choose from, and they pick the least interesting one.

Read my previews and predictions here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/preview-of-tuesdays-uefa-champions.html

Summary of Saturday's English Premier League fixtures

My Predictions:
Arsenal 3 Watford 0
Aston Villa 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Liverpool 2 Blackburn 2
Man City 0 Sheffield United 0
Middlesbrough 0 Everton 1
Portsmouth 2 West Ham 0
Reading 1 Chelsea 0
Wigan 1 Manchester United 2

Actual Results:
Arsenal 3 Watford 0
Aston Villa 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Liverpool 1 Blackburn 1
Man City 0 Sheffield United 0
Middlesbrough 2 Everton 1
Portsmouth 2 West Ham 0
Reading 0 Chelsea 1
Wigan 1 Manchester United 3

So, out of 8 matches, I got 5 correct results, including 3 perfect score lines. I think I did okay.

Read it here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/summary-of-saturdays-english-premier.html

Arsenal brushed aside Watford in comfortable win

Arsenal 3 Watford 0
Saturday 14 Oct 2006

Why didn't Eriksson use Walcott at all in the World Cup? The kid has some pace! I saw the two goals he scored in the England U21 match, and he looked like Theirry Henry! Arsene does know.

Read my match report here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/arsenal-brushed-aside-watford-in.html

Preview of Saturday's Premier League fixtures

Read my previews and predictions here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/preview-of-saturdays-premier-league.html

Arsenal Players on the shortlist for the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year

Will this be the year that someone (Thierry Henry) from the Premiership wins it? Don't hold your breath.

Read my report here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/arsenal-players-on-shortlist-for-2006.html

Is Steve McClaren the wrong choice for England manager?

McClaren was not anyone's first choice for England manager. A compromised appointment does not necessarily mean that it is a wrong appointment, or is it?

Read my take here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/is-steve-mcclaren-wrong-choice-for.html

A humiliating night for England

Not a surpising result, but poor poor Paul Robinson. Lampard had another poor game. What does it take to drop him?

An supposedly easy group now becomes very tricky indeed.

Read my match report here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/humiliating-night-for-england.html

Frank Lampard's reputation is on the line

I don't think Frank Lampard is as bad as many people think. He did have a very poor World Cup, but so did almost every England player. When he plays for Chelsea, he has other world class players (don't you just hate it?) to support and cover for him, so the team is less reliant on him. But for England, there is nowhere to hide for Lampard. He needs to have a good game against Croatia, otherwise I think it's time for McClaren to drop him.


Read my take here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/frank-lampards-reputation-is-on-line.html

England get ready for Croatia

They thought it was an easy group, but after drawing at home to Macedonia, this away match to Croatia takes on more importance. Arguably the most difficult fixture England have in the qualifying round, McClaren is thinking of using a 3-5-2 formation, a system that his players are not familiar with. This is going to be good.


Read my report here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/england-get-ready-for-croatia.html

Are the England players as good as they think they are?

Read my take here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/are-england-players-as-good-as-they.html

The Honeymoon is over for England Manager Steve McClaren

England 0 FYR Macedonia 0
8th October 2006

What a mess! England are just sinking lower and lower. I was not pleased when Steve McClaren was appointed as manager and I hope this insipid display would knock some sense into the people at the FA. Why hire McClaren when Martin O'Neill was available and actually wanted the job?

Read my match report here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/honeymoon-is-over-for-england-manager.html

Arsenal win five in row after Robin van Persie's wonder strike

Charlton 1 Arsenal 2

September 30th 2006

I have watched van Persie's second goal over and over again (I love Youtube). I am happy that Arsenal's season is definitely back on track.

Read my match report here: http://www.sport-blog.com/2006/10/arsenal-win-five-in-row-after-robin.html