Whippage League Fantasy Football

[50] Official site on Macheda update

whippage — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:14:30 +0000

Federico Macheda has started light training, he’s been suffering from a long-term injury, which Sir Alex describes as “disappointing”. The boss says…

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[50] Official site on Macheda update

Football Hooligans – Millwall Compilation

whippage — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:34:31 +0000

Dedicated to the Millwall Bushwakers/Treatment/F-Troop Oasis – Supersonic

Have Your Say: Who Has Been The Best English Player In The Premier League Over The Past Year?

whippage — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:55:00 +0000

Goal.com UK wants to hear your opinion…

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Have Your Say: Who Has Been The Best English Player In The Premier League Over The Past Year?

Liverpool Daily Post editor on the news that James Bulge…

whippage — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:52:48 +0000

One of the killers of Liverpool toddler James Bulger is back behind bars – Jon Venables, 27, was recalled to custody last week after breaching the terms of his release from prison. LDP Editor Mark Thomas – who wrote the definitive book on James’s murder – gives his reaction to the news

America’s First Lady Shows Off Her Fancy Footie Skills

whippage — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:18:27 +0000

video.news.sky.com America’s first lady has been showing off her football skills — with the goal of helping cut the country’s obesity epidemic. Michelle Obama put her best foot forward at a soccer clinic in Washington, as part of her ‘Let’s Move’ campaign. It aims to give children a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Manchester United [1 - 4] Liverpool 2009 – We’ll be fighting ’till the end

whippage — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:49 +0000

“We’ll be fighting ’till the end” words to live by.

Indoor soccer fight

whippage — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:59:19 +0000

Game of indoor soccer gets a little bit unfriendly

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United: Preview

whippage — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:26:29 +0000

After picking up the first trophy of the season in last weekends Carling Cup final, in the process retaining the trophy and becoming the first side ever to do so. The week has since been littered with talk of the Glazers and a possible takeover from ‘the Red Knights’. Whether this will emerge as a reality remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, Wolves will be looking to take full advantage of any post-trophy winning complacency and financial speculation surrounding the club.

After midweek international duty many of the players will now have to focus on the game at Molineux against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Many would expect Edwin van der Sar to return to the Manchester United line up, though Tomasz Kuszczak will have something to say about that. A good display in the Carling Cup final and more over the same in midweek for Poland, the PIG will be looking to a prolonged run in the team.

Rio Ferdinand is available for selection and should partner Nemanja Vidic in central defence. Patrice Evra will be at left-back as ever, and Gary Neville may get the nod over Rafael on the right side against weaker opposition and due to the Brazilian carrying a slight knock. Jonny Evans will miss the game with a knee injury.

Some semi-exciting news, Owen Hargreaves looks likely to play for the reserves in midweek, so he may be in for a first team call-up very soon indeed, but Wolves have came maybe a week too soon. Anderson is out for the season and Giggs is still sidelined with a broken arm. It would not be surprising if United lined up with five across the middle, Antonio Valencia on the right, making his 100th Premier League start. Nani is back from suspension, so could be on the left, but Ji-Sung Park will probably get the nod. Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick should be the central midfield trio.

We have all heard the news that Michael Owen is out of the remainder of the season with a hamstring problem, so it seems we have an issue with our strikers. Wayne Rooney is also a doubt with a knee problem and Federico Macheda is only just returning from long-term absence. So the responsibility to lead the United front line should fall to Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian still has doubters and a good performance leading the line on his own will do nothing but help his case.

Sir Alex Ferguson though expects a battle, he said, “It’s a real dogfight down there. Wolves are fighting for their lives so we expect a difficult match. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re in a situation now where we need to win all of our games. They have to gather points to stay in the league, and it’s the same for all the other teams down there. It’s not easy, but knowing Mick, he’s never been one to shirk a challenge. There is no doubt that they will have a go at us. We’ll just have to make sure we’re prepared for a battle.”

All the talk after the reverse fixture in December was about Mick McCarthy’s decision to field a weakened team, a suspended £25,000 fine will put a stop to any likelihood of a repeat as the Yorkshireman is likely to field an unchanged side from the one that was beaten by Bolton last weekend.

The main dangerman for Wolves this season has been Kevin Doyle, the clubs top scorer with six goals thus far. Jody Craddock is having something of an Indian summer in the gold and black, whilst also contributing four strikes to aid the anti-relegation cause. One player of interest to United fans will be Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, a goal machine in the Championship, has struggled with the step up scoring a paltry goal in the Premier League this season.

Doyle does seem optimistic, stating “United have so many games and, no matter how good a player you are, with that amount of matches, it is difficult to do it week in and week out. I think that is why you have seen some of the results this season, with the top teams beaten. We have less games to play all season, so that is an advantage and hopefully that will show on Saturday.”

Wolves’ only victory in 14 Premier League matches against Big Four opposition was at home to Manchester United in January 2004. A 1-0 win, though last time the side met at Molineux United were 3-0 victors, in the FA Cup four years ago. As well as being the Premier Leagues lowest scorers with 21 goals, Wolves have failed to score in 12 of their 27 league matches this season.

United on the other hand have only won two of their last six away matches in the league and failed to win in both previous Premier League visits to promoted clubs this season.

A battle will ensue, that is certain. Wolves are fighting for their lives and may feel they have something to prove with a full strength side on show, but United are beginning to move into top gear and the Carling Cup may well act as a catalyst for a rousing performance.

Prediction: 3-0 United

Probable Line Up: van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Neville; Valencia, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Park; Berbatov

***

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“Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United: Preview” was originally published at Red Rants – Manchester United Blog.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United: Preview

Anderson Is A Champion

whippage — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:46:12 +0000

Some Chelsea hooligans singing a song.

Wigan Athletic v Liverpool – Match Preview

whippage — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:17:06 +0000

Monday Night Football isn’t generally a happy experience for us. I hate Monday night games, they’re nearly always a real shitfest, and there’s a very distinct possibility this will be too. Chances are we won’t lose though. We’ve never lost to Wigan, and they’re in wretched form at the moment, having won only once in 13 games. Mind you, we haven’t scored in five of our last seven away games, and have drawn blanks in our last three on our travels. That was without Torres though.

We should have more than enough to beat Wigan, but as always it will depend on how we approach the game. The worry is that we’ll go and do what we’ve been doing for months. Sit back, be ‘compact’ and try and nick it by the odd goal. Prior to Keith Andrews’ penalty last weekend, we hadn’t conceded a first half goal in nine league games since losing to Portsmouth. That’s an impressive statistic, but it’s also indicative of the approach we’ve adopted. It’s all about defence first, attack second. If we do that against Wigan, it’s simply playing into their hands. They’re much better going forward than they are defending.

Roberto Martinez’s side are terrible at the back, you don’t concede nine goals at White Hart Lane unless you have serious issues in defence. They’ve got Titus Bramble in there, say no more. Wigan’s biggest weakness is definitely their defence, and that’s what we should be looking to exploit. To do that, we need to attack, and attack in numbers and with intent. That’s something we have not done away from home in a long time. But we’re getting into the business end of the season now, and fourth place could slip away if we drop any more stupid points.

There’s no point being cautious, we need to go balls out and really start to have a go now. I don’t think we will though, Rafa seems to have decided that being cagey and adopting a defensive approach is the best way to get fourth. Unfortunately that has resulted in some of the most uninspiring performances seen in many a year. I hope we’ll see a more adventurous approach in this game, but I wouldn’t bet my house on it.

The thing is, when Torres is in the side we can still win games by being defensive because he is so good, and so clinical. The Villa game is a fine example. We didn’t attack, it was a wretched game with virtually no chances created by either side, but in stoppage time the ball falls to Torres and seconds later we’re going home with the three points.

He’s a matchwinner, and when you team him up with Gerrard then we can beat anybody, regardless of how defensive we are. Will Wigan’s defence be able to stop him? Well they couldn’t at Anfield a few months ago, when his goal proved to be the difference between the two sides. Wigan played ok that day, and N’Zogbia was the best player on the park. He’s an injury doubt for this one, and hopefully he won’t make it because he’s a threat. They do have some attacking talent, I like Rodallega and that Victor Moses is meant to be good too (can’t say I’ve ever seen him play though).

If we sit back and invite them on, they can give us problems, especially as we have some injury concerns in defence. If we take the game to them, they have more to worry about than we do. The biggest selection poser for Benitez is who to pick at right back. There’s a doubt over Agger, so if he doesn’t make it then Carragher will have to play in the middle with the Greek. If Agger is fit, then does Rafa use Carra at right back or keep Mascherano there? Maybe Martin Kelly comes in?

Mascherano’s role will also have a bearing on where Gerrard plays. If he’s right back, the skipper will presumably continue in midfield. If someone else is right back, Gerrard will no doubt be re-united with Torres. I’d like to see Aquilani handed a start, either in midfield or in behind Torres, but it seems unlikely. I just think we have more than enough attacking options at our disposal to comfortably see off Wigan, but unfortunately I’m preparing myself for another long evening and yet another close game.

Line up prediction: Reina; Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Insua; Lucas, Mascherano; Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun; Torres:

Score prediction: 1-2 (Torres, Benayoun)

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Wigan Athletic v Liverpool – Match Preview