Archive for January, 2008
Evra Suspension - a correction
Just a quick post to acknowledge an error in last night’s Scout Notes - United’s Evra is NOT suspended for this weekend’s game at Spurs. Evra did pick up his fifth booking against Spurs last Sunday in the FA Cup, however, because of the 7-day rule, he’s available for Saturday’s game.
Evra will miss the Manchester Derby match a week on Sunday.
Apologies for the error - I’ve had some harsh words with myself.
ContinuedWednesday’s Scout Notes
I’ve got to ask - is there anyone out there without Ronaldo who’s still interested in this season’s fantasy football? Read on for some more tedious C-Ron goal stats and the rest of my thoughts from another evening in the Premiership…
ContinuedTuesday Night Scout Notes
Adebayor scores for fun again, Fabregas scores to spite all those fantasy managers who were on the verge of getting rid and Keegan goes home nursing another 3-0 defeat from the Emirates. Meanwhile at the other end of the table, Bolton grind another clean sheet, Boro’s Aliadiere goes crazy and scores a goal and Sunderland’s new wrecking ball of a strike force put bruises on Birmingham’s defence and a smile on Roy Keane’s face. Here’s my notes from Tuesday’s games…
ContinuedTuesday Night Preview
Here’s some random thoughts from me, put together to hopefully collect some thoughts and comments from you lot on tonight’s games. There are four fixtures in all, mainly affecting the bottom end of the table with six-pointers as far as the eye can see.
ContinuedCahill Set for Aussie Qualifier
A week or so back I mentioned that Tim Cahill could well miss two forthcoming Everton games as a result of Australia’s World Cup Qualifier on February 6. It was clear back then that Cahill would make the choice. Since then there’s growing evidence that he will make the trip.
The Qualifier is due to be played in Melbourne on February 6 - smack bang in the middle of Everton’s games with Blackburn on Saturday and Reading a week later. David Moyes has apparently left the decision whether to fly out for the game to Cahill and quotes from the player earlier this month appeared to reveal his current thinking.
ContinuedWoodgate to Help Ease King’s Pain
Just for one moment there Jonathan Woodgate’s arrival at White Hart Lane had me pondering the potential of the Spurs defence. Ramos’ latest signing will undoubtedly add further resilience to a Spurs side that has already demonstrated a more robust, but no less attacking, style of play under the new manager. In time, a King/Woodgate partnership in central defence would surely provide a foundation on which to grow further defensive stability. However, if the latest reports are to be believed, that dream ticket at the back looks to be a non-starter.
ContinuedMidweek Team News
The team news has had a once-over in the light of all the action from the FA Cup at the weekend. I’ll be updating this tomorrow as more news surfaces on injuries to Rosicky, Richards and Campbell among others and as clues emerge about possible rest and rotation with Premiership sides taking on two games in the space of five days.
ContinuedFA Cup Scout Notes
How the mighty nearly fell. Liverpool survive potentially the biggest shock in FA Cup history as Havant and Waterlooville have the cheek to force Rafa put his best players on the pitch. Elsewhere, whoever blew up City’s blue and white balloons, helped to blow Sven’s chances of a trip to Wembley, as Sheffield United bounced them out in front of the Sky cameras. Oh and Derby lost to Preston - does that count as an upset?
Meanwhile, the top two have no such trouble as Adebayor and Ronaldo star yet again to send Keegan and Ramos home to muse over mid-table. Here’s my notes from the weekend FA Cup games…
ContinuedIvorian’s Progress Puts Nigeria on the Brink
The Ivory Coast have booked their place in the Quarter-Finals of the African Cup of Nations which means that a whole host of players will have their return to the Premiership delayed, although their progress could well be sending the Nigerian contingent in the Premiership home early.
The Ivory Coast will play Mali on Tuesday but are guaranteed a passage through to the next round regardless, having recorded two wins out of two. That round of games will be played on February 3-4 which means that the earliest that players involved can return to Premiership action will be for the fixtures played out on February 9-11. Toure, Eboue, Drogba, Kalou, Zokoroa, Meite and Reading’s Fae are therefore all out of action until that date at the very earliest.
ContinuedVilla vs Blackburn Scout Notes
Just one game in the Premiership this weekend, with Young nudging Capello with another eye-catching performance - capped by a curling free-kick strike. At the other end Santa Cruz found the net on the road for Rovers yet again. Here’s my notes on yesterday’s game…
Continued
