Electronic Arts UK Community - Blogs - My view on Football in General by UsR EXTR3ME http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/ The home of Electronic Arts Community en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:24:54 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/images/ea_images_main/misc/rss.jpg Electronic Arts UK Community - Blogs - My view on Football in General by UsR EXTR3ME http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/ <![CDATA[Saturday's Football Review: Newcastle ghastly, Arsenal splendid]]> http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/377-saturdays-football-review-newcastle-ghastly-arsenal-splendid.html Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:58:01 GMT *The year seemed to have started excellently for Newcastle, with a surprising 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Man Utd, and a home win against Bolton... The year seemed to have started excellently for Newcastle, with a surprising 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Man Utd, and a home win against Bolton - yet just a month into the new season, there is a possibility that the Toon could well be seeing themselves in a relegation battle.

With Kevin Keegan causing confusion and disbelief days after the August Transfer Window's conclusion by leaving the club where he is considered a 'messiah', and club owner Mike Ashley coming under severe criticism from the fans, the team are falling to pieces, with the events appearing to unsettle the Newcastle squad.

They were the ones teaching Man Utd how to defend in their first game of the campaign, however they are now simply dreadful at the back, as shown by their poor 2-1 loss at home to Hull City last week. And yesterday's 3-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham gives the message that Newcastle need to find a new manager - and owner - before it is too late. The club sits second bottom of the Premier League table, but if Tottenham win by three goals or more, they will be in 20th position.

At the other end of the table, meanwhile, Arsenal produced another fine display at the Reebok Stadium, coming from a goal down to defeat Bolton 3-1. And with Chelsea playing Man Utd later today in the first clash between these two fierce rivals, Arsene Wenger knew that this was his side's greatest chance of climbing to the top of the league.

Liverpool 0-0 Stoke City
The surprise result from Saturday's games was this 0-0 draw at Anfield between Liverpool and Stoke City. Reds' boss Rafael Benitez beliefs his side were denied an early winner unfairly by referee Andre Marriner, when Steven Gerrard's second-minute free-kick floated in from the left and, without making contact with any other players, found its way into the bottom-left corner. Dirk Kuyt was ruled offside by the man in charge, although he was standing in a position that surely made it impossible to declare an offside.

Either way, despite Kuyt being level when Gerrard's set piece was delivered, Liverpool can't blame a poor decision for the reason behind a home draw against Stoke, especially after having 30 attempts fail to find the back of the net, with only six hitting the target. Robbie Keane had many of those chances, and although we all know that first Liverpool goal will come for the Irishman, he really should have netted one or two yesterday.

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
It isn't getting any better for Newcastle, who, after a terribly negative display against Hull seven days ago, were even worse yesterday. And when luck isn't on your side, deflections and lucky bounces won't be either - the case for West Ham's first goal, scored by newcomer David di Michele. The Italian cut inside, and attempted a low and hard shot at Shay Given's goal, but instead the ball clipped a defender, and looped over the Irishman and into the back of the net.

The goal set the tone really for a really dull day for everyone involved with Newcastle. The second goal was really ridiculous defensively. Di Michele hit a shot, and after a decent save from Given, the defence stood and watched as the man on loan from Torino collected the ball yards out, flicked the ball over Steven Taylor, and drilled in his second of the afternoon.

And whilst the first goal was lucky, the third was just unlucky on Newcastle's behalf. Their defending was poor again, but di Michele appeared to milalalala a shot, only for Matthew Etherington to be in the right place at the right time to add a third.

Michael Owen neatly slotted home a consolation, and applied a little pressure towards the end, but the only way this club will improve is by sorting out the issues backstage.

Sunderland 2-0 Middlesbrough
On a day when Sunderland weren't really getting anywhere, former Newcastle forward Michael Chopra emerged from the substitutes bench to grab a brace and win the game for the Black Cats.

No-one likes losing, but Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing will have been the least happiest player in the Boro' dressing room yesterday after blazing a penalty over the bar. Nyron Nosworthy was adjudged to have brought Frenchman Jereme Aliadiere down in the box, a decision that may have been rather harshly given by Howard Webb, but nonetheless Downing didn't take the chance to put the team in blue ahead.

And with the El Hadji Diouf-Djibril Cisse partnership ceasing to result in much attacking flair or any goals, Roy Keane threw Chopra on - and he made an instant impact, running on to a Kieran Richardson through-ball to open the scoring, before tapping home a second into an empty net with Steed Malbranque choosing not to go for goal.

Blackburn 1-0 Fulham
Manager Paul Ince returned to winning ways with a win over Roy Hodgson's Fulham, with substitute Matt Derbyshire scoring the game's only goal with less than ten minutes remaining.

The game produced little chances - six on goal to be exact - Derbyshire's goal, rounding off a neat move, being the highlight of a rather eventless encounter.

"The clean sheet pleased me. It was important for the team. When you have got the likes of Roque Santa Cruz and Matty Derbyshire you are always likely to score goals. Having a full week's preparation was massive. We have had four or five good days working really hard in training."
Blackburn boss Paul Ince

Bolton 1-3 Arsenal
Bolton - a team often causing problems for Arsenal - fell victim to some simply awesome football from an Arsenal side that are looking in prestige condition. Kevin Davies' header with less than a quarter of an hour played put the home side in front - but from then on it was as if a switch had been flicked. Arsenal turned up the heat to produce some scintillating football and condemn Bolton to defeat.

There was more than a suspicion of offside against Emmanuel Eboue, who netted Arsenal's first with a well-placed shot low into the bottom-right corner - and Nicklas Bendtner put the Gunners in front just ninety seconds later, with a fantastic move oozing with speed and flair. England's hat-trick hero Theo Walcott collected the ball in his own half, and sped past plenty of Bolton's defenders, before knocking the ball to Emmanuel Adebayor, who in turn drilled the ball across the goalmouth for Bendtner to slide home a second.

The third was similar; Adebayor crossing low and hard, this time for Denilson to score and seal a truly impressive win. ]]> UsR EXTR3ME http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/377-saturdays-football-review-newcastle-ghastly-arsenal-splendid.html The bad side of summer http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/200-bad-side-summer.html Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:44:45 GMT I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Euro 2008 was an amazing tournament.

Some say that the reason for this was that England played no role in the competition, so English fans were not spending all of June worrying about their team, and instead sitting back and enjoying the drama - something we had plenty of.

Others say that it was down to the lack of hype before the competition even started. That's true, simply because the tournament looked weeks away, before it was upon us in a flash.

I say it was down to both factors. The hype in England never really existed because England were non-existant in Austria and Switzerland.

We may have felt let down had we all have been buzzing before the first match, because both Switzerland and the Czech's played out a somewhat mediocre performance to open the tournament. Portugal did what they were expected to do against Turkey an hour later, and the tournament was go.

In fact, Euro 2008 never really got going until Holland started playing. I still believe that had they have kept their group-stage form in their game against Russia, they would have easily made it to the Final, and probably against Spain. What a Final that would have been.

But coming away from Euro 2008, it is clear now that the huge disadvantage of these intense summer tournaments, is that it is like a holiday. Holidays are great fun, and provide more enjoyment than your home would, but they always seem to fly by.

Euro 2008 came and went. I have to admit, I was starting to get a little bemused by Group D, particularly since I was meant to keep my Euro 2008 thread alive, by commenting on one of the most boring teams ever known: Greece.

No goals, rubbish defending, boring style. They didn't even have style really.

Coming home from a hectic day and straight onto the computer for hours on end, was getting annoying. And the tournament became so much easier to enjoy once the games were starting at 7:45pm, and not 5pm. I had more time to do other things.

At that time though, the tournament took off. Similarly to a bus: they take ages to accelerate, but then you give it 20 rockets, and it flies away.

And now Euro 2008 has gone for four years. Such excitement has turned to memories - memories that will never be forgotten.

Football has also gone. Watching every match, every day for 20 days may have been getting a little tiresome, but now there is no football at all, and I simply can't wait for the new season.

I may well be attempting to follow other European leagues such as La Liga and Serie A, and perhaps one or two other well known leagues in Europe, but not into as much detail as I do with the UK leagues, and I'm not promising anything yet.

But at the minute, I am sitting here ill, with nothing to do.

Summer = no football. No football = no fun. At the minute anyway. Ah well, 6 weeks to go, over 40 days left... ]]> UsR EXTR3ME http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/200-bad-side-summer.html Euro 2008 - No need to care http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/127-euro-2008-no-need-care.html Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:29:03 GMT Image: http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff223/Jonny705/Football%20Pictures/Euro2008.jpg * Here we are then, days away from day one of UEFA...


Here we are then, days away from day one of UEFA Euro 2008.

Like pretty much every single England fan, I admit I originally thought that this year's tournament would not be the same without England's participation.

In a way, it won't be. We won't be able to experience the highs and lows of another England campaign overruled by the fact that we needed another 10 friendlies to determine the perfect squad.

We won't be able to watch England slump through the group stage and once again fall terribly short of the big stage that is the Final.

We also won't see them play under such intense pressure on them to deliver good football.

But is that a good thing?

Let me explain. This year, Euro 2008 will be like when the school bully decides to pick on someone else instead of yourself. The other teams, fans and media being the bullies, England those normally being bullied.

It will be like when you lose out on becoming a professional footballer for the team of your dreams, but you have the enjoyment of watching them instead, without the pressure on you.

It may also be like when you break free of the prison that is the world of football and the pressure it gives you, while the other prisoners suffer.

Don't misunderstand me though, football is no prison, more of a sporting heaven instead.

But as an England fan this summer, I - as well as millions of other fans who will still follow the tournament - will be able to watch the action in Austria and Switzerland from the comfort of my living room, and not drip a single drop of sweat for my country.

It will be a bit like the Premier League for me. I support Newcastle - have done since I first knew about football, but since they are normally a mid-table team - or have been over the last few years - I struggle to show a huge amount of interest for them sometimes, and instead I choose to simply enjoy watching the football the Premier League offers.

Football is about passion. If you don't show passion for the team (or teams in some people's cases ;)) you love, then you aren't a true supporter of that team.

But for England fans, our team will not feature in Austria and Switzerland over the next few weeks, so there is nothing to show passion for - only enjoyment.

It will be interesting to focus more on the possible winners of the tournament, instead of England and whether they can actually make a Semi-Final.

It would be nice to witness England finally overcome the bogie team that is Portugal, but that is something that is more unlikely than ever right now.

But I am looking forward to sitting back and enjoying Euro 2008, without a care in the world about who wins. ]]> UsR EXTR3ME http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/127-euro-2008-no-need-care.html The Champions League Final - Brace yourselves http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/72-champions-league-final-brace-yourselves.html Tue, 20 May 2008 14:57:02 GMT Wednesday's Champions League Final is one that will break records, as the first ever all-English Final.

It is this glorious competition that needs teams such as Man Utd and Chelsea in the final, not only representing English football, but battling for English and European bragging rights.

The FA Cup Final is made to rot when these two teams force millions of fans to suffer through 90 minutes (or more, as was the case in 2007) of disgusting, defensive football.

Liverpool have proved 2 out of 3 times that they can produce a final, whether English-only or the Champions League, that will live in the memory for years to come.

The 2006 FA Cup Final, Liverpool 4-3 West Ham. Game of the season by a mile. 2005 Champions League Final, Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan after coming from 3-0 down, to win on penalties.

They were unfortunate to lose last year's final against the same Italian opponents, in a game that was unfortunately appearing likely for a Milan win.

But Liverpool aren't here this time, as one of the continent's biggest rivalries takes place.

Expect skill, expect pace, expect power - the Champions League Final is about style, hopefully that message will be delivered to both teams come Wednesday night.

Man Utd can win the double with a win, Chelsea want revenge for losing the Premier League title for the second year in a row.

Any team could win in Moscow.

Fasten your seatbelts, and brace for impact. ]]> UsR EXTR3ME http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/72-champions-league-final-brace-yourselves.html 127th FA Cup Final - a one-off treat? http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/32-127th-fa-cup-final-one-off-treat.html Sat, 17 May 2008 09:29:42 GMT Image: http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff223/Jonny705/Football%20Pictures/FA%20Cup%20Pictures/FACup.gif * 17th May 2008. A day to...




17th May 2008. A day to remember for British football.

In all honesty, every year I feel the FA Cup gradually slipping away from my interests, every year it gets slightly more boring.

This is mainly because for the last 16 years, at least one of the current 'big four' teams of today's Premier League have taken part in the FA Cup Final. The last time, therefore, that this did not happen was back in 1991 - when the Premier League didn't even exist.

And even before then, one of the four teams of Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool had regularly featured in finals.

Now before I move on, note that I am not the glow of Kevin Keegan's comments on how the Premier League is becoming boring - it certainly is not.

But take a look at last years final, what a terrible way to get Wembley back on it's feet with it's first major domestic final since 2000.

Man Utd 0-0 Chelsea. Nothing else needs to be said.

A decent Drogba goal the only thing that separates two drastically boring sides.

After that game, I was contemplating whether I could show any decent interest in the FA Cup much longer.

Of course I could, it is an annual event that takes place in one of the world's greatest stadiums - but it is getting ruined by the sheer amount of predictability.

That is why this year's final is one to savour. This final has immediately taken us back to the finals of the 1980s, when teams such as Brighton made it to Wembley.

The amount of incredible 'cupsets' this season's campaign has produced is the reason why we all love the FA Cup.

This is why many stay inside on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May, when we ought to be getting some sunshine.

Portsmouth knocked out runners-up Man Utd on their own back yard. That victory made my day.

When Barnsley knocked out Liverpool, I was amazed - but when they repeated such incredible success in the next round against the holders, Chelsea, I was truly astounded.

In a way, it is a shame Barnsley never made it to the final, since they are the team who produced the most astonishing results.

But their triumphant opponents, Cardiff, played their part in destroying 95% of the giant brick wall that is known as the Premier League, beating Middlesbrough 2-0 - also on their own turf.

Those who make their way to the final always deserve to be there - but those who emerge victorious over those who have been successful previously, and appear as a much stronger opponent, deserve it so much more.

The only problem is that I fear that this may be a one-off treat for FA Cup fans.

I so desperately hope that I am wrong, since this cup deserves a change more frequently then it has been doing so.

For now though, let's sit back and enjoy the most enthralling FA Cup Final clash in years. ]]> UsR EXTR3ME http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/blogs/346868-usr-extr3me/32-127th-fa-cup-final-one-off-treat.html