Champions League - Tuesday round up

Champion league group stages started yesterday with both Manchester United and Manchester City in action. 

Man United beat Bayer Leverkusen four goals to two and as the score line suggest. 

It was no means an easy match for Man United and when Bayer scored the equaliser you could feel the collective groan via twitter. 

I don't think there was ever any real danger of them losing especially as they were playing at home. 

So when Van Persie, Rooney and Valencia each scored a goal that helped to calm the nerves of any worried fans.

Manchester City had a much more comprehensive victory beating Viktoria Plzen three goals to nil.

To be fair I  have never heard of this team Viktoria Plzen but Man City did well to avoid an embarrassing loss.

  

Korean Open /Guangzhou Open

The Korean Open started today and already Heather Watson has been dumped out of the competition by forty two year old Kimiko Date Krumm.

Heather lost this match in three sets and at this stage I am worried for Heather's career.

She is currently ranked seventy six in the world and another lost like this and she will probably fall out of the top one hundred.

It's all becoming a bit desperate for Heather and she hasn't got a coach that can take her out of this current slump.

But funny enough Heather then went on later in the day and played a doubles match and with her partner Lourdes Dominguez Lino managed to win in three sets against  Olrau and Savachuk. 

Which means Heather can do this, she just needs to find a away out of her current singles slump.

                                       Heather Watson  and Laura Robson (Sportinglife.com)

Guangzhou Open

Laura Robson beat Jovana Jaksic  in straight sets to make to the second round.

 It was a good solid win for Laura but she will meet tougher opponents in the forthcoming rounds. 

Laura needs rise up to the challenge and ultimately try and win her first WTA title.  

 

Premiership roundup -17/09/13

It is pretty early in the season to make any bold predictions. However teams Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool have had a good start.

Arsenal now look like a team that can challenge for trophies. I say that but I am also painfully aware of how things start and end each season with Arsenal. So I would say injuries permitting we could have good season.

                                        Mesut Ozil (telegraph.co.uk)

Tottenham are Arsenal's North London rivals and even though they have spent hundreds and millions of pounds I am not  remotely worried that they will have a better season than us.

 I suspect in the last ten games of the season they will probably fall apart as they did last season!

Liverpool drew two two with Swansea City and already there has been a lot of hype about how Liverpool are a force to be reckoned with.

 I suggest if they want to win the premiership it probably starts with beating Swansea City. 

I am convinced that Chelsea, Man United and Man City are in for a tough transitional season. 

All three have changed their manager and to be fair it gives Arsenal a chance of winning some silverware!



 

Premier League review - 14/09/13

So after the international break the premier league was back yesterday. 

Man United beat newly promoted Crystal Palace two nil and to be fair, it was always going to be a challenge for Crystal Palace to win at Old Trafford.

However they did well and Man United had to work hard for this win. If Palace can keep this up they will do well this season.

 

Man City and Stoke City drew nil nil and this meant that Stoke maintained their proud record not losing to Man City at home. 

Tottenham Hotspurs beat Norwich City two nil. This was always going to be a challenge for Norwich.

I thought that with all the new players that Spurs bought it would take time for them to settle in. I guess that was not a problem for Spurs.

Everton beat Chelsea one nil and I was not too surprised by this result. Everton are a good hardworking team. 

Chelsea also bought some new players like Samuel Eto so it may take little while for him and the others to settle in.

Arsenal controversially beat Sunderland three goals to one. Arsenal where winning two goals to one when Sagna pulled back a Jozy Altidore and then Jozy scored a second goal. 

But referee claimed he had blown his whistle for Sagna's infringement on Jozy. So he disallowed the goal and give Sunderland a free kick instead which did not result in a goal. 

Arsenal then went on and scored a third goal and won the match. I have to say that we were a little fortunate, but these things tend to even themselves out over a course of a season.

Aaron Ramsey scored two goals for Arsenal which helped to seal the victory. I have to say that last season I was not impressed with Ramsey.

 So it is a big surprise to see him playing so well. Just as well Arsene Wenger stuck with him as he is now scoring amazing goals. 

Arsenal played well but I was concerned that defensively we looked a little vulnerable. 

Although Santi Carzola did not play and is an attacking midfielder. He  gives the team a little lift which was a little lacking today. Hopefully Arsenal will be  stronger and better in our next game.

Preview of the premiership games

So after the break for the World Cup qualifiers, the premiership resumes today.

Man United are at home to the newly promoted Crystal Palace. This could  be quite a tough match for Crystal Palace but who knows they might surprise us. 

Man City are away to Stoke City this will be a very competitive game. Which  to be fair could go either way.

Chelsea are away to Everton now this should be a good match and I would not be surprised if Everton won.

Tottenham are at home to Norwich this will probably be a very competitive match.

 Spurs new players are still to bed in with the rest of their players. So if Norwich where going to beat Spurs this would be a good time. 

On Monday Liverpool are away to Swansea this will be a competitive game that could go either way. 

However Liverpool  have started very well with three straight wins so maybe their winning streak might continue.

Arsenal are away to Sunderland and we always  struggle away from home to beat Sunderland. 

Arsenal normally comeback from  the international break and play sluggish football. 

I am hoping that our new signing Mesut Ozil might shake the team up and get us a win!

World Cup qualifiers- round up

This week's World Cup qualifiers had some interesting results. 

England drew with Ukraine but two other home nations suffered surprising defeats.

Northern Ireland lost to Luxembourg and Wales lost to Serbia. The manner in which both teams lost was surprising to say the least. 

Luxembourg is a lowly ranked team so for Northern Ireland to lose to them was a little embarrassing. 

Although Serbia have a  good team, for Wales to lose to Serbia was surprising. Especially has they have Gareth Bale the new Real Madrid striker in their team. 

Neither Wales or Northern Ireland can qualify for 2014 which must be galling for their supporters.

Other notable European countries to qualify for 2014 are Italy and Holland who can now book their tickets to Brazil. 

The USA have made it again to the World Cup which is always a little surprising as they are not known as a footballing  country. 

However I would that their last two World Cup outings their results have been very similar to England.

So those October qualifiers should be interesting some countries can play their B team. 

Some countries, who have little prospect of qualifying will be playing for pride. Some countries like England still have it all to do but it is in their hands.

 

England v Ukraine - review

England played a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine yesterday and it ended in a draw. 

England are still at the top of the table despite getting this draw and qualification to the World Cup is still very much in England's hands. 

This was always going to be tough away match for England. What doesn't help matters is the lack of strength and depth in the squad. 

Roy Hodgson chose to go with experience and some up and coming players like Rickie Lambert who plays for Southampton. 

It was a gamble that enabled England to get a draw over a much more established and experienced team like the Ukraine.

The England 's subs bench was also filled with lots  of up and coming players. There was only about two or three players on that subs bench that could have made a difference like Ashley Young , Jermaine Defoe and Michael Carrick. 

Roy Hodgson chose to bring  on Ashley Young who made little impact on the score line. 

The next two qualifiers in October are going to be huge for England. Hopefully Roy will have a better selection of players to pick from.

Although qualifying is still very much in England's hands  it is going to be a real challenge. I still wish Rio Ferdinand and John Terry were still playing for England.

 Yes qualification can be achieved with these current players but it going to require an amazing  effort from the eleven players picked.

I hope England qualifies as anybody who supports them desperately wants to see them at  Brazil 2014.