This week on Super Tuesday We focus on the days before the Bloodpath. We obviously know that Chelsea are our Geraaks but THIS fortnight is Big. We going to focus on the Champions league from both Liverpool and the MANCS, We also have our LA LIGA round up by Irfaan Adam and I hope he is supporting Barcelona. I met Joe Dindar yesterday, had a chat with him. The man is a die hard MANC. I told him that the Wednesday night we will celebrate Lionel Messi day. What can I say. Its going to be humdingers. I cant wait. I also spoke to Husein from Nescafe and told him to paint it RED after tonight...But then again he too is a MANC. Also we have lost the Chavel so we looking for a writer for
Theater of Dreams
Anfield horror for Chelsea ?
KOPics of discussion
Jermaine Pennant scores by mistake, and everyone has a good laugh
Jokes aside, great strike by the most inconsistent/incompetent winger in the premiership
Crouch scores his 10th premiership goal in a highly frustrating season for the Lanky Striker
Well done lads, now I can save my energy to tear Chelsea apart, hope Tal Ben Haim is playing
What the %$#@ Voronin, can’t you do anything right?
Rafa Benitez was expected to rest his core players for the matchup on Saturday at Craven Cottage, and that’s exactly what he did. Fernando Torres, Fabio Aurelio, Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher,Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt(?) and Steven Gerrard,all absent from the starting XI. The win was a bonus, though Mash’s knock and Hyppia’s head wound are worrying signs. Steven Gerrard is suffering from stiff neck, though Rafa insists he should be fine for the Chelsea game tonight.
Our second team got the job done, but one thing for sure, Liverpool clearly lack quality in depth. We have glorified benchwarmers like Riise, Pennant and Lucas, and they aren’t the type of players you would have if you had “proper” funds available. Nonetheless, a 2 -0 victory away from home, solidifying Champions league next season, and being able to rest our Top Class players for tonight,and I think Rafa will be happy. That on the field though, and I’m not too sure, how the Gaffer feels about Rick the Dick Parry and his hypocritical actions with Tom and Jerry over in the states with a certain Jurgen Klinsmann, that really is anyone’s guess.
Champion League Liverpool vs Chelsea (Again)
No, its not a triple dose of Deja vu`, Liverpool and Chelsea meet once again in the Champion League semi final. One twist to it this tme around though. The 1st leg is at Anfield. Liverpool had the backing of the Kop in the 2nd leg of both occasions and Liverpool progressed. What type of a mindset and tactics will Rafa instill in his players. Does Liverpool fly out there early on and try and get the opening goal, or is it too risky given there is a chance Chelsea could get that all important away goal? Its tension abound for players and fans, but one things for sure. It will be the managers who will mastermind the outcome, games like these are usual decided by a key tactical decision by the Manager,and Grant might feel Rafa has the upper hand when it comes to game-changing tactical changes. But Liverpool fans will take a 30 Yard Gerrard strike with a smile. C'mon You Reds, the cold of Moscow awaits....
LA LIGA ROUND UP
Barca finally blow it
Irfaan Adam
Barcelona have all but thrown away their slim chances of making a last gasp effort of winning the league. The Catalans played out a dull 0-0 draw against city rivals Espanyol at the Nou Camp.
More bad news for Barcelona is that Thierry Henry sat out training yesterday with the
Flu, and it is still unclear if Titi will be fit for the United game. I know Barca have been crap for most of the season but all of us know that Henry has a remarkable knack of scoring crucial goals against United. On a positive note Lionel Messi is back in action and Carlos Tevez has labeled him as the danger man.
Villarreal took full advantage of Barcelona’s slip up and jumped ahead of them into second place. Nihat gave The Yellow Submarines the lead early on and Santiago Cazorla wrapped up the points in the second half.
Real Madrid have literally wrapped the title this season after a 2-0 victory over Racing Santander. A Raul strike (he must be kicking down the door to be selected for Euro 2008) gave the champions the lead in the first half and Gonzalo Higuain sealed the deal with a goal in the last minute.
Santander should count themselves lucky, because fellow Champions league hopefuls Atletico Madrid and Sevilla not only lost, but caught a hiding this weekend.
Atletico were thrashed 3-1 at home to Betis, a Sergio Aguero goal not enough to inspire the home team to a victory which would have made them clear favourites for 4th place.
At the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Sevilla got the shock of their lives, the ever improving Almeria, showed no respect at all to their hosts and handed out a 4-1 belting. After going down 4 and playing with 10 men, Fredi Kanoute atleast pulled 1 back for the hosts but it was not enough.
A good week just turned on it’s head for Valencia. Coach Ronald Koeman finally got a few nights of sleep after Los Che beat Getafe 3-1 midweek to lift the Copa De La Rey.
But their celebrations were brought to a halt on Sunday by a brilliant Atletico Bilbao who whacked them 5-1. The result leaves Valencia 2 points above the relegation places with 5 games of the season remaining.
It would be sad to see them go down as everyone knows the quality they have in their squad.
Transfer Rumours
Ronaldinho’s move to Milan is in doubt, after the Italians admitted that they had failed to match Barcelona's asking price for the player.
Staying with Barca Samuel Eto’o has warned them if they do not start winning trophies he’s ready to pack his bags.
Atleito Madrid has agreed a deal with Ajax for Dutch defender Jonny Heitinger.
Man United are keen on Sevilla captain Dani Alves for 25million pounds.
Chelsea are to spend big on either Kaka or Messi
And last but not least
David Villa has been linked with a move to the Premiership with Liverpool and Arsenal fighting it out for his signature
This article I took from Goal.com. Ya the managers. I must be honest. You miss mourinho...His jibes, his insults, his theatrics. To me Avram Grant is a MUGG. Did you watch his Yes , No Interview. I was trying to get the transcript. One thing that scares me though tonight, is that it is Chelsea that are the underdogs and the fact that we go the Bridge last
Benítez: Abramovich The True Chelsea Boss
Liverpool boss Rafa Benítez has stirred things before tomorrow's Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea by claiming managers at Stamford Bridge are irrelevant - the Spaniard reckons Blues owner Roman Abramovich is the one who really runs the team.
Despite the problems in the Anfield boardroom at present nobody can doubt that when it comes to matters on the field Benítez is in charge. But the Liverpool boss doesn't reckon the same holds true for his counterpart Avram Grant, nor the Israeli's predecessor José Mourinho. Same Old Chelsea“The key to them is Abramovich," he opined. "The only difference I see between Mourinho and Grant is in their Press conferences! I watched the game at Everton and they were playing the same as they always did. "They have been in the final of the Carling Cup, they face us in the semi-finals of the Champions League and they are still in the race for the title. They have enough good players to win. So we must be really careful and have a lot of respect for them. No Grant Grudges, No Mourinho Longing"I don’t like to talk about Grant," continued the Spaniard when asked what he made of the Israeli's future at Chelsea. "As a manager, I have a lot of respect for him because he’s being correct. I have nothing bad to say.” As for the Blues' previous boss: “The media might miss Mourinho, but not me,” smiled Benitez. “I have enough things to do in Liverpool now. At the end of the day, the players are the key more than the managers. Managers can talk before the game but, during the game, the players make the difference. "We are important for the Press conferences to say something and some games, yes, the managers are important. But the best thing for a manager to do is not create any mess so the players can just play. We have strikers like Torres but they have Drogba - if he’s fit - and Anelka, who is a good player. You can say Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Babel or someone, could be the difference for us. But it’s also about the team working hard.”
Graeme Waterford, Goal.com
Ok I managed to get the famous Avram Grant Yes No Interview. Here is the transcript
So after the win at Everton last night, the Manager had to give the obligitory post match interview, something our former boss was very good at, especially at this time of the year. Avram however, appears to be losing the plot. If he was trying to make a point against Sky TV, then he failed, as you don’t bite the hand which feeds (read: Broadcasts your club worldwide) you.
Here is a transcript of his interview.
Question: “What pleased you most about the game?”Answer: Grant: (Long pause with several sighs). Eventually: “I don’t know.”
Q: Is it a relief to win?”
A: “Yes”.
Q: “Were you impressed by the performance?” (Long pause).
A: “Sorry? I was thinking about the game.”
Q: What is it that’s on your mind Avram? You seem to be distracted. Do you have a problem or an issue?
A: “No problem. I’m OK. Sometimes I don’t have nothing to say.”
Q: “Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans?”
A: “You represent the Chelsea fans?”
Q: “No. I wanted to ask you, have you got a message for the Chelsea fans? You must believe you’re still in the title race now?”
A: “No message.”
Q: “Does this result put you right back in it now?”
A: “I don’t know.”
Q: “What is wrong? You seem less voluble than usual. It is because of Sky TV?”
A: “Maybe it’s because of you, I don’t know.”
Q: “Is it easier to say nothing Avram?”
A: “It’s a good question, I don’t know what to answer.”
Q: “Is this because of Sky? Is it a protest?”
A: “No, no. Sky is OK. I enjoy watching them.”
Q: “Is this a protest against newspapers?”
A: “No, why?”
Q: “Why would you refuse to speak to us properly?”
A: “I think I answered every question.”
Q: “You’re two points behind Manchester United and you don’t know if you’re still in the title race?
A: “No.”
Q: “That’s not the proper answer to the question, is it? Have you told the players you don’t know you’re back in the title race then?”
A: “What I tell the players is something else.”
Q: “So you’ve given them a different answer?”
A: “So you want me now to tell you what I tell the players? I would be happy to do it but let me first speak with them.”
Q: “If you would just answer our question, would you say you’re in the title race again?”A: “I don’t know.”
Q: “Given that Chelsea have won again to put pressure on Manchester United and you will be on the back pages of the newspapers tomorrow presumably you would like to gain some positive publicity rather than this bizarre silence?”
A: “Sorry you can write whatever you want, I can answer whatever I want.”
Q: “Do you feel under pressure to deliver a trophy? Is that the reason for the monosyllabic answers?”
A: “No.”
Q: “Are you upset? Do you feel you are being misrepresented?”
A: “Maybe upset because it’s a bad season, I don’t know.”
Q: “Did Michael Essien collapse during the game?”
A: “He had some problem but he’s OK.”
Q: “How is Michael Ballack?”
A: “Injured.”
Q: “What is the problem with Ballack?”
A: “Injured.”
Q: “Have you ever played the Yes/No game?”
Chelsea communications officer Simon Taylor: “I don’t think this is really going anywhere.”
Well Chelsea, As I always said ,tonight you have to cross that white line to the most intimidating night of your lives.If we get a 2 goal cushion at Anfield, We will cross the bridge
Super Tuesday Question
Who will take over from Perreira. These are teh reoprts coming in from news24.com. I mean for f#4ks sake. Do we just want to make a man rich. This man is a Mugg. He has never coached at International Level. F$ck this. As a citizen of SA I am f#4ken upset. I want Ingesund. Please share your views guys
Johannesburg - Brazilian Joel Santana will be the new coach of Bafana Bafana, subject to being granted a work permit.
The 59-year-old's club, Flamengo, confirmed as much on their official website.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Santana says. "To take part in a World Cup is the dream of any professional."
Santana is believed to have been recommended by Parreira and will take up his position after the May 4 Final of Brazil's Carioca championship.
Flamengo have expressed disappointment at losing their coach, but say they could never match the financial package offered by Safa.
"He said he will earn in 30 months more than he has earned in the last 30 years," Flamengo vice-president Kleber Leite says. "His dream is to coach at a World Cup."
The former centre back played for Vasco da Gama during a playing career that lasted nine years. He failed to win an international cap and retired at the age of 32 to move straight into management.
Something of a journeyman, he has coached in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Japan, but never at international level. Somewhat worryingly, he has also coached 14 teams in the last eight years, and 26 in his 27-year coaching career.
Bafana will be hoping he can stay in one place for the next two years at least.
Parreira officially resigned on Monday to return to Brazil to be with his ailing wife, but has agreed to stay on as a technical advisor.
It is understood his assistants, Pitso Mosimane and Jairo Leal, will also remain with the technical team to work with Santana.
www.news24.com
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