Tommy Clarke, Legend

After a little bit of referee bashing in the last couple of weeks, this 87 year old ref is a great example of passion for the game. What a legend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVcSH_wiTQo&feature=related

(P.S. Sadly, this footage is from 2007 and Tommy Clarke passed away in 2009 at the tender age of 89.)

viva st pauli 2

For all three of you who are interested, HERE is a quality video courtesy of the Guardian profiling FC St Pauli. Well worth a watch... 

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/video/2011/mar/16/st-pauli-socialist-football-hamburg-video

9 years and counting...

I was at Goodison Park in 2002 to watch David Moyes first game in charge of Everton, and when David Unsworth scored after a mere 30 seconds, there was a real feeling amongst the fans that this was the start of a new era. After years of under-performing, a solitary FA Cup final victory in 1995 serving only as a distraction from perennial relegation dog-fights, maybe David Moyes was the man to finally restore pride at this famous old giant of a club.

Now, after nine years in charge, it is difficult to say whether that has been achieved. Although no longer fighting relegation year after year, and with names like Mikel Arteta, Maroune Fellaini, Tim Chaill, and Leighton Baines replacing the likes of Mark Pembridge, Scot Gemmill, and Jesper Blomqvist, Moyes has yet to add to the extensive trophy cabinet at Goodison Park.

An FA Cup final appearance and a fourth place finish in the Premier League are impressive achievements given the inadequate financial resources Moyes has had at his disposal during his reign. However, for a club like Everton, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. Birmingham, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, and Tottenham have all enjoyed trophy parades in the years following David Moyes appointment, yet Everton remain the nearly men of the Premier League era, never relegated and never serious contenders for the league title. The squad is undoubtedly stronger than it was nine years ago and, despite the heckling from the London based press, is no longer a candidate for relegation. This small mercy will not satisfy the lust of Everton fans who yearn for the success of yesteryear.

Clearly, there is a problem in the boardroom and without investment, success is unlikely to materialise. Kenwright can claim he is doing the responsible thing, and to be fair, it is wise to be wary of selling out to Billionaires with no idea about football, as Blackburn have done. The sacking of Allardyce epitomised the dangers of novices in the boardroom and could yet cost Blackburn their Premier League status. At the same time, money isn't everything and Everton fans are well within their rights to point to Birmingham's recent League Cup triumph and ask, if Alex Mcleish can do it, why can't David Moyes?

are you sure ref??

Speaking of dodgy officials, here is a video of poor Dorchester Town player/manager Ashley Vickers being sent off for 'violent conduct'. Again, it would be nice to see a bit more common sense from referees, especially since Vickers is doing everyone at the game a massive favour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUtiCXQNJks&feature=player_embedded

breaking news...

FIFA have opened disciplinary action against six match officials charged with match fixing in international friendlies. Full details of these proceedings have not yet been released, however any investigation into match-fixing in football is bound to be very high profile and we can expect to see this story, and very probably further allegations against other officials and even players, unfold over the coming weeks.

cheeky double

North London bookmakers will have taken plenty of money from optimistic Tottenham fans ahead of tonight's second leg game with AC Milan. However, the Italians offer real value at 9/4, and I must confess my money is on the rossoneri.

Elsewhere, Everton face an unpredictable Birmingham team at Goodison Park, and without wanting to curse my boys for a second week in a row, Moyes will be confident his side can make it three wins in a row in the league.   

The double pays a handsome 5/1 and has to be worth a flutter...

 

common sense

Just a quick word about last nights game between Barca and Arsenal; First, and most importantly, Barca were superb. Messi was a constant danger, Xavi was walking through the Arsenal midfield at will all game and you have to say that the Catalans fully deserved their win. However, from a neutral perspective, it was a shame that a bit more common sense wasn't shown by the referee when he was so quick to send Van Perise off. Even though Arsenal hadn't managed a shot on target up to that point, they were ahead in the tie and the game was heading for an exciting conclusion. That one ridiculous decision ruined the game as a spectacle and hopefully UEFA will punish Massimo Busacca accordingly. 

exclusive footage

exclusive footage of ashley cole's now infamous shooting of an intern at chelsea's training ground... or at least what it MIGHT have looked like!

weekend review

What a difference a day, or in this case a week, makes. Last Monday, Arsenal fans were awakening to a miserable grey sky that matched their mood following humiliating defeat in the Carling Cup final. This week however, Gunners fans will be looking at the bright blue sunshine full of optimism as the season's end draws ever closer. Despite a toothless display against Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday, Arsenal are now within touching distance of Man Utd after Sir Alex's boys were sent packing from Anfield with their tails between their legs. Liverpool have been re-energised under the management of Dalglish and their new sense of purpose saw them deservedly beat a United team left short at the back after Vidic's needless red card at Stamford Bridge the week before. United will be desperate to ensure they don't slip up again in the coming weeks before travelling to the Emirates on May 1st for what is shaping up to be a winner takes all showdown.

Elsewhere, Mikel Arteta finally found the sort of form that has made him such a legend on Merseyside as Everton dispensed of Newcastle. The barcodes were devoid of creativity without Joey Barton and in truth never really threatened to retake the lead they surrendered so easily in the first half. West Ham showed they wont be going down without a fight by hammering Stoke, Wolves took full advantage of Tottenham's generosity at the back in a hard earned draw, Birmingham paid a price for their undoubtedly boozy celebrations after last week's cup win and allowed West Brom to take 3 vital points from St Andrews, and Bolton strengthened their case for a Europa League spot with a win against visiting Aston Villa.

Final word goes to Nani for this hilarious attempt to get Carragher sent off after a typically thuggish challenge from the Huyton lad. I love the way he limps over to the ref to show off his injury and then throws himself to the floor... as if this melodramatic act will do anything except make him look like an idiot. Terrible tackle, worse reaction. Good job he didn't gift Liverpool a decisive second goal to complete a miserable afternoon for the lad...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WnHJJRGrtM

the art of motivation

Here is the famous vinnie jones giving a half-time dressing down to his pub team in hollywood. If carslberg did sunday league managers... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC8CIXcUQ8w

Never can tell

So, it turns out I know nothing about football! Having only got one of my five predictions correct yesterday, I have spent the morning wandering where it all went wrong. For Everton, perhaps it was the moment Beckford had to be removed from the starting line-up as he was stuck in traffic on the M62. Quite what he was doing anywhere near the M62 within an hour of kick off is beyond me as surely he should have been with his team mates at the ground around three hours before hand. Fair play to Reading, they were well organised and never really looked in trouble. Saha had one of those games where he confuses himself for a central midfielder and Arteta is still nowhere near the player he was before he snapped his cruciate a couple of years ago. Whether he ever will be again is now a serious cause for concern amongst toffees fans.

Elsewhere, Chelsea breathed life into the title race by disposing of Manchester United. When Luiz equalised early in the second half, my shout of 1-1 always looked fragile as both teams streamed forward looking for the winner. Lampard took advantage of a very generous refereeing decision to slam home the winning penalty and Vidic compounded the misery for Sir Alex by needlessly getting himself sent off for persistent fouling. Chelsea will now look to kick on from here and secure Champions League football in 2011/2012 whilst Tottenham will be hoping that defeat at Blackpool hasn't ended their ambitions to be in next year's competition. Arsenal's inconsistent form will calm United's nerves and you would have to say the boys from Old Trafford are still favourites for the Premier League title. However, as last night demonstrated once again, football is always unpredictable and you can never can tell what's going to happen next.

pre-match predictions

With the title race all but over, the big game of the evening is clearly the FA Cup 5th round tie at Goodison Park between Everton and Reading. Both teams are eager to extend their stay in the competition and with the Toffee's sweating on the fitness of Beckford, Saha and Fellaini, Royal's fans will be hopeful of an upset. Everton should be too strong for their Championship opponents though so I'm going for a 3-1 (9/1) victory for the blues. 

In the Championship, play-off hopefuls Nottingham Forest travel to struggling Middlesbrough hoping to get back to winning ways and I reckon Billy Davies men will take this 2-1 (9/1). Derby and Doncaster play out a good old fashioned  relegation six pointer at Pride Park and home advantage should be enough to see the Rams victorious, I'm backing them to win 2-0 (7/1). The third and final fixture in England's second tier see's Scunthorpe travel to Fratton Park to face a resurgent Portsmouth, and I'm backing pompy to win 3-0 (11/1). 

There is also the small matter of Chelsea Vs Man Utd this evening with the londoners desperate for a result to re-ignite their season. It will be interesting to see who starts out of Torres, Anelka and Drogba or whether Ancelotti decides to lump all three on. My hunch is that Drogba will take a seat on the bench. United can extend their lead over Arsenal to seven points with a win tonight but I fancy Chelsea to nick a 1-1 (11/2) draw with a late equaliser. 

F.Y.I - Accumulator pays 40/1