Michezo magazetini leo...

Michezo magazetini leo...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Leighton Baines penalty seals Everton victory over Blackburn




#content > .six-col { float: none; }.m-sport { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 128, 0); }.m-sport #tabs { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); }.m-sport h2 { margin-top: 0pt; border-top: 0pt none; font-size: 14px ! important; padding: 9px 0pt 12px ! important; }.m-sport th { padding-right: 30px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 150px; }.m-sport li { display: inline; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); }.football .article-attributes { border-top: medium none ! important; }

Premier League

Everton 2
  • Osman 54,
  • Baines 75
Blackburn Rovers 0



  • Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.06 BST
    Leon-Osman-Everton-Blackb-007.jpg
    Leon Osman, right, scores the opening goal for Everton against Blackburn. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images

    Blackburn's owners are novices to English football, but a fortune made through poultry farming suggests Venky's should recognise when their product is choking. Goodison Park witnessed a Premier League existence that is in serious danger of ebbing away.
    This was Steve Kean's 17th game as Rovers manager, but he has already equalled an unwanted 25-year record after Everton easily extended their opponents' sequence to 10 games without a win in all competitions, their worst run since 1986. Blackburn are sliding towards the abyss and it will intensify the fears of their supporters – many of whom found their only solace here by running across the Bullens Road Stand wearing superhero costumes – that their team appear oblivious to the fact.
    Blackburn were the ultimate pacifists, content to take the blows and offering nothing in return, while their manager was alone in identifying the positives. With a demanding run-in to come against the leading lights at home and fellow strugglers away, Kean's supreme optimism will have to rub off soon.
    "The first half was more than good enough," the Rovers manager said. "I thought we shaded it in the first half but we were poor in the second. We let the first goal affect us. The first goal was always going to be crucial and it fired Everton up."
    Blackburn's predicament should have injected some urgency and adventure into their performance against a makeshift Everton, but they were content to absorb pressure from the start. The consequence was a display devoid of threat, except for when the substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen flashed wide after a mix-up between Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka in the dying minutes. This first half that Kean believes Blackburn "shaded" can be surmised by Roque Santa Cruz's miscued shot in the 43rd minute. It was the first time a visiting player had touched the ball in the Everton area.
    Everton's season has lifted in inverse proportion to the number of players available to David Moyes as younger members of the squad have grasped the opportunity and Jermaine Beckford has shown a greater maturity in attack. Here, however, the former Leeds striker returned to the margins of the game, casually slicing wide when sent clear by Jermaine Jones's back header in the second minute and providing little outlet for his midfield. Fortunately for Everton they had, in Leon Osman and Baines, the game's outstanding performers and another emerging talent in Magaye Gueye to assist in their complete dominance of the left flank.
    Gueye, a midfielder signed for £800,000 from Strasbourg last summer, enjoyed a polished, inventive hour in his first Premier League start at Goodison. The 20-year-old was instrumental in Everton's strong opening to the second half and it was from his short corner that the home side took the lead too easily in the 54th minute. Osman was the recipient on the edge of the area and, having sidestepped a feeble challenge from Rubén Rochina, the on-loan midfielder from Barcelona, his low shot took a slight deflection off the toe of Chris Samba and flew beyond Paul Robinson.
    Falling behind did not wake Blackburn from their slumbers. Seconds later Osman returned the favour to Gueye, who hit the sidenetting before departing to a standing ovation. His replacement, Seamus Coleman, was clipped inside the area by the otherwise impressive Phil Jones and the referee, Kevin Friend, had no hesitation pointing to the spot. Baines stepped forward to beat Robinson handsomely from 12 yards. "They allowed us the ball and while we didn't always use it that well we were in control of the game," said Moyes. At least one Glaswegian manager called it right.
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    IAN BALL, Observer reader It was a comfortable victory. There wasn't any threat from Blackburn in my eyes. Their only player of any note was Samba who cut out the threat of Beckford, who never jumped for a high ball the whole game. Osman's goal was excellent, he scored with a curling shot with the left foot and may have taken a deflection off Samba. We always seem to play better with our backs against the wall.
    The fan's player ratings Howard 6; Hibbert 8, Jagielka 5, Distin 7, Baines 8; Bilyaletdinov 6, Neville 6, Heitinga n/a (Rodwell 15 5), Gueye 8 (Coleman 65 6); Osman 9; Beckford 5 (Vellios 85 n/a)
    TONY RICHARDS, Observer reader This is getting humiliating. Once again we bottled it: no fight, inept tactics and some awful individual performances – we made Everton look good, which they're not. The last time we won a game was in January: we're clearly going down unless we either get lucky with other clubs' results, or the owners swallow some pride and lose Steve Kean. What we need is an out-of-work impact manager to give us a lift. One name springs to mind ...
    The fan's player ratings Robinson 4; Salgado 4, Samba 4, P Jones 4, Givet 4 (Pedersen 67 4); Dunn 4, J Jones 4; Emerton 4, Rochina 6 (Mwaruwari 81 n/a), Olsson 4; Santa Cruz 4 (Roberts 61 4)
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

 
Leighton Baines penalty seals Everton victory over Blackburn



Premier League

Everton 2
  • Osman 54,
  • Baines 75
Blackburn Rovers 0



  • Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.06 BST
    Leon-Osman-Everton-Blackb-007.jpg
    Leon Osman, right, scores the opening goal for Everton against Blackburn. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images

    Blackburn's owners are novices to English football, but a fortune made through poultry farming suggests Venky's should recognise when their product is choking. Goodison Park witnessed a Premier League existence that is in serious danger of ebbing away.
    This was Steve Kean's 17th game as Rovers manager, but he has already equalled an unwanted 25-year record after Everton easily extended their opponents' sequence to 10 games without a win in all competitions, their worst run since 1986. Blackburn are sliding towards the abyss and it will intensify the fears of their supporters – many of whom found their only solace here by running across the Bullens Road Stand wearing superhero costumes – that their team appear oblivious to the fact.
    Blackburn were the ultimate pacifists, content to take the blows and offering nothing in return, while their manager was alone in identifying the positives. With a demanding run-in to come against the leading lights at home and fellow strugglers away, Kean's supreme optimism will have to rub off soon.
    "The first half was more than good enough," the Rovers manager said. "I thought we shaded it in the first half but we were poor in the second. We let the first goal affect us. The first goal was always going to be crucial and it fired Everton up."
    Blackburn's predicament should have injected some urgency and adventure into their performance against a makeshift Everton, but they were content to absorb pressure from the start. The consequence was a display devoid of threat, except for when the substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen flashed wide after a mix-up between Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka in the dying minutes. This first half that Kean believes Blackburn "shaded" can be surmised by Roque Santa Cruz's miscued shot in the 43rd minute. It was the first time a visiting player had touched the ball in the Everton area.
    Everton's season has lifted in inverse proportion to the number of players available to David Moyes as younger members of the squad have grasped the opportunity and Jermaine Beckford has shown a greater maturity in attack. Here, however, the former Leeds striker returned to the margins of the game, casually slicing wide when sent clear by Jermaine Jones's back header in the second minute and providing little outlet for his midfield. Fortunately for Everton they had, in Leon Osman and Baines, the game's outstanding performers and another emerging talent in Magaye Gueye to assist in their complete dominance of the left flank.
    Gueye, a midfielder signed for £800,000 from Strasbourg last summer, enjoyed a polished, inventive hour in his first Premier League start at Goodison. The 20-year-old was instrumental in Everton's strong opening to the second half and it was from his short corner that the home side took the lead too easily in the 54th minute. Osman was the recipient on the edge of the area and, having sidestepped a feeble challenge from Rubén Rochina, the on-loan midfielder from Barcelona, his low shot took a slight deflection off the toe of Chris Samba and flew beyond Paul Robinson.
    Falling behind did not wake Blackburn from their slumbers. Seconds later Osman returned the favour to Gueye, who hit the sidenetting before departing to a standing ovation. His replacement, Seamus Coleman, was clipped inside the area by the otherwise impressive Phil Jones and the referee, Kevin Friend, had no hesitation pointing to the spot. Baines stepped forward to beat Robinson handsomely from 12 yards. "They allowed us the ball and while we didn't always use it that well we were in control of the game," said Moyes. At least one Glaswegian manager called it right.
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    IAN BALL, Observer reader It was a comfortable victory. There wasn't any threat from Blackburn in my eyes. Their only player of any note was Samba who cut out the threat of Beckford, who never jumped for a high ball the whole game. Osman's goal was excellent, he scored with a curling shot with the left foot and may have taken a deflection off Samba. We always seem to play better with our backs against the wall.
    The fan's player ratings Howard 6; Hibbert 8, Jagielka 5, Distin 7, Baines 8; Bilyaletdinov 6, Neville 6, Heitinga n/a (Rodwell 15 5), Gueye 8 (Coleman 65 6); Osman 9; Beckford 5 (Vellios 85 n/a)
    TONY RICHARDS, Observer reader This is getting humiliating. Once again we bottled it: no fight, inept tactics and some awful individual performances – we made Everton look good, which they're not. The last time we won a game was in January: we're clearly going down unless we either get lucky with other clubs' results, or the owners swallow some pride and lose Steve Kean. What we need is an out-of-work impact manager to give us a lift. One name springs to mind ...
    The fan's player ratings Robinson 4; Salgado 4, Samba 4, P Jones 4, Givet 4 (Pedersen 67 4); Dunn 4, J Jones 4; Emerton 4, Rochina 6 (Mwaruwari 81 n/a), Olsson 4; Santa Cruz 4 (Roberts 61 4)
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk
 
Late goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor helps Aston Villa sink West Ham




#content > .six-col { float: none; }.m-sport { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 128, 0); }.m-sport #tabs { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); }.m-sport h2 { margin-top: 0pt; border-top: 0pt none; font-size: 14px ! important; padding: 9px 0pt 12px ! important; }.m-sport th { padding-right: 30px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 150px; }.m-sport li { display: inline; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); }.football .article-attributes { border-top: medium none ! important; }

Premier League

West Ham United 1
  • Keane 2
Aston Villa 2
  • Bent 36,
  • Agbonlahor 91




  • Paul Doyle at Upton Park
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.07 BST
    Aston-Villa-celebrate-007.jpg
    Aston Villa players celebrate Darren Bent's equaliser at Upton Park. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

    The last time West Ham United went down, in 2003, they did so with a raft of England players in their ranks. Aston Villa arrived at Upton Park at risk of suffering a similar fate this season but after sparkling performances by their internationals they departed relatively worry-free and pushed West Ham closer to a return to the Championship.
    The hosts hired a local brass band to blare Land of Hope and Glory before kick-off and their players suggested they were eager to get into that spirit by opening the scoring in the second minute.
    Villa's Ashley Young played his part, too, dawdling as the visiting defence rushed out after half-clearing a Mark Noble corner and thereby leaving Robbie Keane onside to collect Thomas Hitzlsperger's header over the top. The Irishman swivelled sharply and slammed the ball into the net from close range. But that was the end of West Ham's glory. Hope just about lingers.
    But Young more than atoned for his early slackness. His redemption began in the sixth minute, when he dashed off the left wing and into the home penalty area before firing a low shot that was deflected wide. He made a similar run moments later and this time found the target but Rob Green saved. Brad Friedel did likewise at the other end in the 20th minute, when Carlton Cole tested him with a drive from the edge of the area.
    By then West Ham, who had started without their injured talisman, Scott Parker, had lost the centre-back Manuel da Costa following an awkward challenge by Darren Bent. The Villa striker had cause to groan, too, when his seemingly legitimate goal in the 24th minute was disallowed for a supposed foul on the West Ham right-back Lars Jacobsen.
    Never mind: 12 minutes later he scored one that counted. As with Keane's strike, the goal was punishment for dithering by a midfielder, Mark Noble being caught in possession in the penalty area by Emile Heskey before Luke Young delivered a cross that Bent headed in expertly from eight yards.
    Villa dominated after that as Bent and Ashley Young excelled and the effect of Parker's absence became apparent on West Ham, who looked irreparably fragmented. "It was a very crucial match and the players knew it and they were a little bit nervous, especially without Parker," said Avram Grant, who knows that, with Parker's ankle injury possibly sidelining him for another two weeks, his team cannot afford to carry on like this. "We need to deal with this situation," the West Ham manager said.
    Green had to thwart Bent from close range at the start of the second half after Matthew Upson misread a bounce and from the resulting corner Cole booted a James Collins header off the line. Two minutes later Green foiled Ashley Young with a superb diving save from a curling 20-yard free-kick. Bent's ability to continually find space was making a mockery of the home defence but in the 72nd minute he reprieved them by missing his easiest chance of the game, scuffing a shot from six yards after a fine run and cross by Kyle Walker.
    Ashley Young again went close in the 76th minute before Cole squandered an opportunity to score against the run of play. After a mighty punt by Green, the striker beat Richard Dunne and Friedel to the ball but lobbed wide from 15 yards. A home winner would have been unjust, indeed even a draw would have been undeserved and in stoppage time they were denied that dividend.
    Inevitably, Ashley Young created the goal, tricking his way down the right before crossing for the substitute Gabriel Agbonlahor to head in from six yards.
    "I told the players before the game that this could be a turning point and we couldn't miss it," said Gérard Houllier, the much-maligned manager whose own position may not yet be quite as comfortable as that of his team, who now sit ninth. "When you're in danger you can't have egos in the team and you can't have grudges. You've got to be man enough to work for each other. I thought we did that. The season is going into the home straight and we are well-placed."
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    ROGER HART, Observer reader Before hand I was concerned, but we scored early and we looked really good, with plenty of neat passing and wide play. They equalised against the run of play and in the second half, they found an extra gear and they were the ones spreading the play. When O'Neil went off that was a big loss. We had a good chance near the end but Cole cleared the bar and then they scored.
    The fan's player ratings Green 7; Jacobsen 5, Da Costa 4 (Gabbidon 14 6), Upson 5, Bridge 6; O'Neil 6 (Ba 62 4), Noble 6, Hitzlsperger 7; Obinna 5, (Hines 58 4) Keane 6, Cole 7
    JONATHAN PRITCHARD, Observer reader It is a massive relief for us to be almost safe. We didn't start the game very well and West Ham dominated the first half. But in the second half we were the better team. We are a different team since we changed formation to 4-4-2 and it's a shame Houllier didn't spot that earlier. It's nice to see Hitzlsperger back in the Premier League and we wish West Ham well but there's no room for sentiment. We're ninth in the league now, it's crazy.
    The fan's player ratings Friedel 7; Walker 7, Collins 6, Dunne 6, L Young 6; Downing 7, Petrov 8, Reo-Coker 8, A Young 7; Bent 7, Heskey 7 (Agbonlahor 78 7)
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

 
Late goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor helps Aston Villa sink West Ham





Premier League

West Ham United 1
  • Keane 2
Aston Villa 2
  • Bent 36,
  • Agbonlahor 91




  • Paul Doyle at Upton Park
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.07 BST
    Aston-Villa-celebrate-007.jpg
    Aston Villa players celebrate Darren Bent's equaliser at Upton Park. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

    The last time West Ham United went down, in 2003, they did so with a raft of England players in their ranks. Aston Villa arrived at Upton Park at risk of suffering a similar fate this season but after sparkling performances by their internationals they departed relatively worry-free and pushed West Ham closer to a return to the Championship.
    The hosts hired a local brass band to blare Land of Hope and Glory before kick-off and their players suggested they were eager to get into that spirit by opening the scoring in the second minute.
    Villa's Ashley Young played his part, too, dawdling as the visiting defence rushed out after half-clearing a Mark Noble corner and thereby leaving Robbie Keane onside to collect Thomas Hitzlsperger's header over the top. The Irishman swivelled sharply and slammed the ball into the net from close range. But that was the end of West Ham's glory. Hope just about lingers.
    But Young more than atoned for his early slackness. His redemption began in the sixth minute, when he dashed off the left wing and into the home penalty area before firing a low shot that was deflected wide. He made a similar run moments later and this time found the target but Rob Green saved. Brad Friedel did likewise at the other end in the 20th minute, when Carlton Cole tested him with a drive from the edge of the area.
    By then West Ham, who had started without their injured talisman, Scott Parker, had lost the centre-back Manuel da Costa following an awkward challenge by Darren Bent. The Villa striker had cause to groan, too, when his seemingly legitimate goal in the 24th minute was disallowed for a supposed foul on the West Ham right-back Lars Jacobsen.
    Never mind: 12 minutes later he scored one that counted. As with Keane's strike, the goal was punishment for dithering by a midfielder, Mark Noble being caught in possession in the penalty area by Emile Heskey before Luke Young delivered a cross that Bent headed in expertly from eight yards.
    Villa dominated after that as Bent and Ashley Young excelled and the effect of Parker's absence became apparent on West Ham, who looked irreparably fragmented. "It was a very crucial match and the players knew it and they were a little bit nervous, especially without Parker," said Avram Grant, who knows that, with Parker's ankle injury possibly sidelining him for another two weeks, his team cannot afford to carry on like this. "We need to deal with this situation," the West Ham manager said.
    Green had to thwart Bent from close range at the start of the second half after Matthew Upson misread a bounce and from the resulting corner Cole booted a James Collins header off the line. Two minutes later Green foiled Ashley Young with a superb diving save from a curling 20-yard free-kick. Bent's ability to continually find space was making a mockery of the home defence but in the 72nd minute he reprieved them by missing his easiest chance of the game, scuffing a shot from six yards after a fine run and cross by Kyle Walker.
    Ashley Young again went close in the 76th minute before Cole squandered an opportunity to score against the run of play. After a mighty punt by Green, the striker beat Richard Dunne and Friedel to the ball but lobbed wide from 15 yards. A home winner would have been unjust, indeed even a draw would have been undeserved and in stoppage time they were denied that dividend.
    Inevitably, Ashley Young created the goal, tricking his way down the right before crossing for the substitute Gabriel Agbonlahor to head in from six yards.
    "I told the players before the game that this could be a turning point and we couldn't miss it," said Gérard Houllier, the much-maligned manager whose own position may not yet be quite as comfortable as that of his team, who now sit ninth. "When you're in danger you can't have egos in the team and you can't have grudges. You've got to be man enough to work for each other. I thought we did that. The season is going into the home straight and we are well-placed."
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    ROGER HART, Observer reader Before hand I was concerned, but we scored early and we looked really good, with plenty of neat passing and wide play. They equalised against the run of play and in the second half, they found an extra gear and they were the ones spreading the play. When O'Neil went off that was a big loss. We had a good chance near the end but Cole cleared the bar and then they scored.
    The fan's player ratings Green 7; Jacobsen 5, Da Costa 4 (Gabbidon 14 6), Upson 5, Bridge 6; O'Neil 6 (Ba 62 4), Noble 6, Hitzlsperger 7; Obinna 5, (Hines 58 4) Keane 6, Cole 7
    JONATHAN PRITCHARD, Observer reader It is a massive relief for us to be almost safe. We didn't start the game very well and West Ham dominated the first half. But in the second half we were the better team. We are a different team since we changed formation to 4-4-2 and it's a shame Houllier didn't spot that earlier. It's nice to see Hitzlsperger back in the Premier League and we wish West Ham well but there's no room for sentiment. We're ninth in the league now, it's crazy.
    The fan's player ratings Friedel 7; Walker 7, Collins 6, Dunne 6, L Young 6; Downing 7, Petrov 8, Reo-Coker 8, A Young 7; Bent 7, Heskey 7 (Agbonlahor 78 7)
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk
 
Roberto Martínez is the master as Blackpool's towering season collapses




#content > .six-col { float: none; }.m-sport { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 128, 0); }.m-sport #tabs { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); }.m-sport h2 { margin-top: 0pt; border-top: 0pt none; font-size: 14px ! important; padding: 9px 0pt 12px ! important; }.m-sport th { padding-right: 30px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 150px; }.m-sport li { display: inline; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); }.football .article-attributes { border-top: medium none ! important; }

Premier League

Blackpool 1
  • Campbell 83
Wigan Athletic 3
  • Rodallega 3,
  • N'Zogbia 46,
  • Eardley 66




  • Louise Taylor at Bloomfield Road
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.23 BST
    Charles-Nzogbia-007.jpg
    Charles Nzogbia (centre) celebrates with Hugo Rodallega and manager Roberto Martinez after putting Wigan 2-0 up. Photograph: Paul Burrows/Action Images

    Ian Holloway cites Roberto Martínez as the catalyst for the alteration of his football philosophy. During a sabbatical, Blackpool's manager became captivated by the Spaniard's possession game when he was at Swansea. "Roberto inspired me to change my view of the way the game should be played," he said.
    Holloway was left cursing as Martínez's side elegantly hauled themselves off the foot of the table while pushing Blackpool into the bottom three for the first time this season. With Charles N'Zogbia excelling, the visitors belied recent struggles courtesy of characteristically expansive passing that left Charlie Adam and company chasing shadows.
    It all represented comprehensive revenge for Blackpool's 4-0 crushing of Wigan at the DW stadium on the opening day in August. Eight months ago, Holloway's implementation of a Spanish-style purist aesthetic promised unexpected glory, but, unlike Martínez, he does not have an N'Zogbia to help execute the strategy amid the intense pressures of spring-time six-pointers.
    "Completely amateurish," Holloway said. "We've given ourselves a mountain to climb, but when you get in a run like this it's really difficult to stop."
    Holloway's mood was not improved by his charges' impending journey to London for the Footballer of the Year awards. "A complete nonsense," he said. "A disguised booze up with ties on – and we certainly shouldn't be slapping each other on the back."
    Martínez's side were swiftly high-fiving after Craig Cathcart's slip enabled Hugo Rodallega to connect with N'Zogbia's typically shrewd through pass. Matthew Gilks, preferred to Richard Kingson in Blackpool's goal, advanced to narrow the angle but was swiftly embarrassed as Rodallega slipped a shot between his legs en route to the bottom corner.
    "We are staying up," sang the travelling fans – and watching N'Zogbia, deployed initially in a right-sided attacking role, be a menace almost every time he touched the ball it was hard to disagree. Surely destined for greater things, the Frenchman teased Holloway's defence to the point where a frustrated Ian Evatt was fortunate merely to be booked for an awful challenge.
    By now bright sunshine was burning off the morning mist that had shrouded Blackpool's famous tower, but, seemingly targeted towards energising visiting legs, all the attendant Vitamin D singularly failed to fortify anyone wearing tangerine.
    Indeed, Holloway's players barely tested Ali al-Habsi during a first half that concluded with N'Zogbia deservedly doubling the lead. It began with Mohammed Diamé seizing possession from Adam and feeding the scorer. From then on it was the N'Zogbia show, the former Newcastle winger displaying superior dribbling skills and a devastating change of pace as he dodged two defenders before directing a shot into the bottom corner.
    "Everybody loves to watch Charlie," said a "delighted" Martínez. "He's got sensational raw talent and he's a huge, huge asset. I was very proud of the way he worked so hard off the ball to ensure we kept possession high up the pitch."
    With 30 minutes remaining Holloway made a triple substitution, only for Blackpool to swiftly concede again as Diamé's fierce left-footed strike deflected past Gilks off Neal Eardley.
    Martínez promptly withdrew N'Zogbia and, with Blackpool suddenly breathing a little easier, DJ Campbell reacted faster than Gary Caldwell and Habsi to the fallout from an Adam free-kick – defending set pieces remains a Wigan weakness – to pull a goal back.
    But there could be few worse times of year for Blackpool to become acquainted with the relegation zone.
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    CLIFF SMITH, seasiders-across-scotland.ning.com
    This was probably the worst we have seen Blackpool play at Bloomfield Road in the past five years. The team seems to have lost all the confidence it had at the beginning of the season. We haven't given up hope of staying up yet, but Olly is going to have to earn his money now to get the players in the right frame of mind for our final matches.
    The fan's player ratings Gilks 4; Eardley 4, Cathcart 3, Evatt 5, Crainey 5; Grandin 4 (Phillips 59 4), Southern 3, Adam 5; Taylor-Fletcher 4 (Beattie 59 2), Campbell 4,Varney 5 (Puncheon 59 6)
    MARK ASHURST, Observer reader For about 80 per cent of the game this was the best we've played all season. The early goal settled us down and although Blackpool have had a good press I thought they looked a very, very poor side. I don't know how they beat us 4-0 earlier this season. We've got five cup finals left in the league, but we play a lot of sides around us and we have a good momentum, so I think we have a very good chance of staying up.
    The fan's player ratings al-Habsi 7; Boyce 7, Gohouri 7, G Caldwell 8, Alcaraz 7; McCarthy 8, Watson 9, Diamé 8 (Gomez 80 7); N'Zogbia 8 (Sammon 77 7), Rodallega 8,Cleverley
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

 
Roberto Martínez is the master as Blackpool's towering season collapses




#content > .six-col { float: none; }.m-sport { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 128, 0); }.m-sport #tabs { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); }.m-sport h2 { margin-top: 0pt; border-top: 0pt none; font-size: 14px ! important; padding: 9px 0pt 12px ! important; }.m-sport th { padding-right: 30px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 150px; }.m-sport li { display: inline; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); }.football .article-attributes { border-top: medium none ! important; }

Premier League

Blackpool 1
  • Campbell 83
Wigan Athletic 3
  • Rodallega 3,
  • N'Zogbia 46,
  • Eardley 66




  • Louise Taylor at Bloomfield Road
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.23 BST
    Charles-Nzogbia-007.jpg
    Charles Nzogbia (centre) celebrates with Hugo Rodallega and manager Roberto Martinez after putting Wigan 2-0 up. Photograph: Paul Burrows/Action Images

    Ian Holloway cites Roberto Martínez as the catalyst for the alteration of his football philosophy. During a sabbatical, Blackpool's manager became captivated by the Spaniard's possession game when he was at Swansea. "Roberto inspired me to change my view of the way the game should be played," he said.
    Holloway was left cursing as Martínez's side elegantly hauled themselves off the foot of the table while pushing Blackpool into the bottom three for the first time this season. With Charles N'Zogbia excelling, the visitors belied recent struggles courtesy of characteristically expansive passing that left Charlie Adam and company chasing shadows.
    It all represented comprehensive revenge for Blackpool's 4-0 crushing of Wigan at the DW stadium on the opening day in August. Eight months ago, Holloway's implementation of a Spanish-style purist aesthetic promised unexpected glory, but, unlike Martínez, he does not have an N'Zogbia to help execute the strategy amid the intense pressures of spring-time six-pointers.
    "Completely amateurish," Holloway said. "We've given ourselves a mountain to climb, but when you get in a run like this it's really difficult to stop."
    Holloway's mood was not improved by his charges' impending journey to London for the Footballer of the Year awards. "A complete nonsense," he said. "A disguised booze up with ties on – and we certainly shouldn't be slapping each other on the back."
    Martínez's side were swiftly high-fiving after Craig Cathcart's slip enabled Hugo Rodallega to connect with N'Zogbia's typically shrewd through pass. Matthew Gilks, preferred to Richard Kingson in Blackpool's goal, advanced to narrow the angle but was swiftly embarrassed as Rodallega slipped a shot between his legs en route to the bottom corner.
    "We are staying up," sang the travelling fans – and watching N'Zogbia, deployed initially in a right-sided attacking role, be a menace almost every time he touched the ball it was hard to disagree. Surely destined for greater things, the Frenchman teased Holloway's defence to the point where a frustrated Ian Evatt was fortunate merely to be booked for an awful challenge.
    By now bright sunshine was burning off the morning mist that had shrouded Blackpool's famous tower, but, seemingly targeted towards energising visiting legs, all the attendant Vitamin D singularly failed to fortify anyone wearing tangerine.
    Indeed, Holloway's players barely tested Ali al-Habsi during a first half that concluded with N'Zogbia deservedly doubling the lead. It began with Mohammed Diamé seizing possession from Adam and feeding the scorer. From then on it was the N'Zogbia show, the former Newcastle winger displaying superior dribbling skills and a devastating change of pace as he dodged two defenders before directing a shot into the bottom corner.
    "Everybody loves to watch Charlie," said a "delighted" Martínez. "He's got sensational raw talent and he's a huge, huge asset. I was very proud of the way he worked so hard off the ball to ensure we kept possession high up the pitch."
    With 30 minutes remaining Holloway made a triple substitution, only for Blackpool to swiftly concede again as Diamé's fierce left-footed strike deflected past Gilks off Neal Eardley.
    Martínez promptly withdrew N'Zogbia and, with Blackpool suddenly breathing a little easier, DJ Campbell reacted faster than Gary Caldwell and Habsi to the fallout from an Adam free-kick – defending set pieces remains a Wigan weakness – to pull a goal back.
    But there could be few worse times of year for Blackpool to become acquainted with the relegation zone.
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    CLIFF SMITH, seasiders-across-scotland.ning.com
    This was probably the worst we have seen Blackpool play at Bloomfield Road in the past five years. The team seems to have lost all the confidence it had at the beginning of the season. We haven't given up hope of staying up yet, but Olly is going to have to earn his money now to get the players in the right frame of mind for our final matches.
    The fan's player ratings Gilks 4; Eardley 4, Cathcart 3, Evatt 5, Crainey 5; Grandin 4 (Phillips 59 4), Southern 3, Adam 5; Taylor-Fletcher 4 (Beattie 59 2), Campbell 4,Varney 5 (Puncheon 59 6)
    MARK ASHURST, Observer reader For about 80 per cent of the game this was the best we've played all season. The early goal settled us down and although Blackpool have had a good press I thought they looked a very, very poor side. I don't know how they beat us 4-0 earlier this season. We've got five cup finals left in the league, but we play a lot of sides around us and we have a good momentum, so I think we have a very good chance of staying up.
    The fan's player ratings al-Habsi 7; Boyce 7, Gohouri 7, G Caldwell 8, Alcaraz 7; McCarthy 8, Watson 9, Diamé 8 (Gomez 80 7); N'Zogbia 8 (Sammon 77 7), Rodallega 8,Cleverley
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk
 
Roberto Martínez is the master as Blackpool's towering season collapses







Premier League

Blackpool 1
  • Campbell 83
Wigan Athletic 3
  • Rodallega 3,
  • N'Zogbia 46,
  • Eardley 66




  • Louise Taylor at Bloomfield Road
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.23 BST
    Charles-Nzogbia-007.jpg
    Charles Nzogbia (centre) celebrates with Hugo Rodallega and manager Roberto Martinez after putting Wigan 2-0 up. Photograph: Paul Burrows/Action Images

    Ian Holloway cites Roberto Martínez as the catalyst for the alteration of his football philosophy. During a sabbatical, Blackpool's manager became captivated by the Spaniard's possession game when he was at Swansea. "Roberto inspired me to change my view of the way the game should be played," he said.
    Holloway was left cursing as Martínez's side elegantly hauled themselves off the foot of the table while pushing Blackpool into the bottom three for the first time this season. With Charles N'Zogbia excelling, the visitors belied recent struggles courtesy of characteristically expansive passing that left Charlie Adam and company chasing shadows.
    It all represented comprehensive revenge for Blackpool's 4-0 crushing of Wigan at the DW stadium on the opening day in August. Eight months ago, Holloway's implementation of a Spanish-style purist aesthetic promised unexpected glory, but, unlike Martínez, he does not have an N'Zogbia to help execute the strategy amid the intense pressures of spring-time six-pointers.
    "Completely amateurish," Holloway said. "We've given ourselves a mountain to climb, but when you get in a run like this it's really difficult to stop."
    Holloway's mood was not improved by his charges' impending journey to London for the Footballer of the Year awards. "A complete nonsense," he said. "A disguised booze up with ties on – and we certainly shouldn't be slapping each other on the back."
    Martínez's side were swiftly high-fiving after Craig Cathcart's slip enabled Hugo Rodallega to connect with N'Zogbia's typically shrewd through pass. Matthew Gilks, preferred to Richard Kingson in Blackpool's goal, advanced to narrow the angle but was swiftly embarrassed as Rodallega slipped a shot between his legs en route to the bottom corner.
    "We are staying up," sang the travelling fans – and watching N'Zogbia, deployed initially in a right-sided attacking role, be a menace almost every time he touched the ball it was hard to disagree. Surely destined for greater things, the Frenchman teased Holloway's defence to the point where a frustrated Ian Evatt was fortunate merely to be booked for an awful challenge.
    By now bright sunshine was burning off the morning mist that had shrouded Blackpool's famous tower, but, seemingly targeted towards energising visiting legs, all the attendant Vitamin D singularly failed to fortify anyone wearing tangerine.
    Indeed, Holloway's players barely tested Ali al-Habsi during a first half that concluded with N'Zogbia deservedly doubling the lead. It began with Mohammed Diamé seizing possession from Adam and feeding the scorer. From then on it was the N'Zogbia show, the former Newcastle winger displaying superior dribbling skills and a devastating change of pace as he dodged two defenders before directing a shot into the bottom corner.
    "Everybody loves to watch Charlie," said a "delighted" Martínez. "He's got sensational raw talent and he's a huge, huge asset. I was very proud of the way he worked so hard off the ball to ensure we kept possession high up the pitch."
    With 30 minutes remaining Holloway made a triple substitution, only for Blackpool to swiftly concede again as Diamé's fierce left-footed strike deflected past Gilks off Neal Eardley.
    Martínez promptly withdrew N'Zogbia and, with Blackpool suddenly breathing a little easier, DJ Campbell reacted faster than Gary Caldwell and Habsi to the fallout from an Adam free-kick – defending set pieces remains a Wigan weakness – to pull a goal back.
    But there could be few worse times of year for Blackpool to become acquainted with the relegation zone.
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    CLIFF SMITH, seasiders-across-scotland.ning.com
    This was probably the worst we have seen Blackpool play at Bloomfield Road in the past five years. The team seems to have lost all the confidence it had at the beginning of the season. We haven't given up hope of staying up yet, but Olly is going to have to earn his money now to get the players in the right frame of mind for our final matches.
    The fan's player ratings Gilks 4; Eardley 4, Cathcart 3, Evatt 5, Crainey 5; Grandin 4 (Phillips 59 4), Southern 3, Adam 5; Taylor-Fletcher 4 (Beattie 59 2), Campbell 4,Varney 5 (Puncheon 59 6)
    MARK ASHURST, Observer reader For about 80 per cent of the game this was the best we've played all season. The early goal settled us down and although Blackpool have had a good press I thought they looked a very, very poor side. I don't know how they beat us 4-0 earlier this season. We've got five cup finals left in the league, but we play a lot of sides around us and we have a good momentum, so I think we have a very good chance of staying up.
    The fan's player ratings al-Habsi 7; Boyce 7, Gohouri 7, G Caldwell 8, Alcaraz 7; McCarthy 8, Watson 9, Diamé 8 (Gomez 80 7); N'Zogbia 8 (Sammon 77 7), Rodallega 8,Cleverley
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk
 
Seb Larsson eases Birmingham's relegation fears as Sunderland slump




#content > .six-col { float: none; }.m-sport { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 128, 0); }.m-sport #tabs { border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); }.m-sport h2 { margin-top: 0pt; border-top: 0pt none; font-size: 14px ! important; padding: 9px 0pt 12px ! important; }.m-sport th { padding-right: 30px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 150px; }.m-sport li { display: inline; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); }.football .article-attributes { border-top: medium none ! important; }

Premier League

Birmingham City 2
  • Sebastian Larsson 41,
  • Gardner 66
Sunderland 0



  • Georgina Turner at St Andrew's
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.13 BST
    Sebastian-Larsson-007.jpg
    Birmingham's Sebastian Larsson shoots past Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to score his team's opening goal. Photograph: David Davies/PA

    Sunderland's search for a win goes on, though they created twice as many chances as their hosts and controlled long spells of this match. Beforehand Steve Bruce had called on his side to rediscover their cutting edge after taking one point from the previous available 24, while Alex McLeish had asked for more of the "defensive heroics" for which his Birmingham team are noted. Only one could be granted his wish and it was not the man in the away dugout.
    Bruce was keen to talk up the positive aspects of Sunderland's performance. "I could not have asked anything more of them," he said, of a side that included the 21-year-old academy product Jack Colback making his first league start. "We're very young, with six or seven missing again, and that's hampered us. But I thought we played very well. If we play like that again we'll take points."
    Birmingham made a bustling start, with Cameron Jerome going close, but their early comfort slipped into complacency and Sunderland almost capitalised when Lee Cattermole picked Barry Ferguson's pocket on the edge of the area. Ben Foster dived in to prevent the Sunderland captain getting a shot off and Roger Johnson was on the line to clear Stéphane Sessègnon's follow-up strike.
    Birmingham took a lead out of nothing shortly before half-time, when Jerome nodded on Foster's long kick for Sebastian Larsson to chase in the company of Phil Bardsley. Simon Mignolet came off his line then hesitated, and Larsson prodded the ball beyond him.
    The home side doubled their lead 21 minutes after the break through Craig Gardner, whose swerving left-footed shot Mignolet could only palm into the top of the net. Bruce praised his goalkeeper's season but said: "He'll be disappointed with the two goals today."
    Sunderland had seemed to be building towards an equaliser, but they were thwarted by a combination of miscues, another impressive performance in Birmingham's defence from Johnson, and Foster's gloves. The goalkeeper pushed a curling effort from Asamoah Gyan – who had a quiet game – around his far post. He also kept out Cattermole's deflected drive before pushing a point-blank Danny Welbeck header over the bar.
    Jordan Henderson hit the side-netting and had his cross, just after the hour, connected with Danny Welbeck's foot or Sessègnon's forehead, the points might have been shared. But once Birmingham established the two-goal cushion, they settled for holding on to the ball and disrupting any tempo Sunderland could create. Matt Derbyshire might even have added a third in added time, but shot wide.
    The result means Birmingham leapfrog Sunderland into 14th. "That was a big win," McLeish said. "We did our job today. The pressure was on us in a home game and we responded. We've never had an easy game all season."
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    KYM YPRES-SMITH, SmallHeathAlliance.comWe've been worried for weeks, especially after dipping into the bottom three, but this win means we can breathe again – we just need a few more points to be sure. I think 2-0 was a fair reflection of the game. Our first goal was bizarre but just reward for Larsson – he was our man of the match today, Bowyer also played well. We've still got a lot of injuries but team spirit got us through today.
    The fan's player ratings Foster 8; Carr 8, Johnson 9, Ridgewell 8, Parnaby 7; Larsson 9 (Fahey n/a), Ferguson 8, Gardner 8, Bowyer 8; Jerome 7 (Derbyshire 90 n/a), Phillips 6 (Hleb 63 7)
    PETE SIXSMITH, SalutSunderland.comThe game revolved around the two keepers. Mignolet made a crucial error to hand City the lead after we had been the better side. We came out strongly in the second half only for Foster to make two great saves, then Mignolet should have stopped their second. We played well enough at times, but serious pressure is on Bruce now – next week at home to Wigan is a must-win. If we stay up, it will be because of the inadequacies of other teams.
    The fan's player ratings Mignolet 4; Elmohamady 6, Turner 6, Onuoha 7, Bardsley 7; Henderson 7, Cattermole 6, Colback 6 (Malbranque 5), Sessègnon 5; Gyan 5, Welbeck 4 (Noble 70 6)
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

 
Seb Larsson eases Birmingham's relegation fears as Sunderland slump


Premier League

Birmingham City 2
  • Sebastian Larsson 41,
  • Gardner 66
Sunderland 0



  • Georgina Turner at St Andrew's
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.13 BST
    Sebastian-Larsson-007.jpg


    Sunderland's search for a win goes on, though they created twice as many chances as their hosts and controlled long spells of this match. Beforehand Steve Bruce had called on his side to rediscover their cutting edge after taking one point from the previous available 24, while Alex McLeish had asked for more of the "defensive heroics" for which his Birmingham team are noted. Only one could be granted his wish and it was not the man in the away dugout.
    Bruce was keen to talk up the positive aspects of Sunderland's performance. "I could not have asked anything more of them," he said, of a side that included the 21-year-old academy product Jack Colback making his first league start. "We're very young, with six or seven missing again, and that's hampered us. But I thought we played very well. If we play like that again we'll take points."
    Birmingham made a bustling start, with Cameron Jerome going close, but their early comfort slipped into complacency and Sunderland almost capitalised when Lee Cattermole picked Barry Ferguson's pocket on the edge of the area. Ben Foster dived in to prevent the Sunderland captain getting a shot off and Roger Johnson was on the line to clear Stéphane Sessègnon's follow-up strike.
    Birmingham took a lead out of nothing shortly before half-time, when Jerome nodded on Foster's long kick for Sebastian Larsson to chase in the company of Phil Bardsley. Simon Mignolet came off his line then hesitated, and Larsson prodded the ball beyond him.
    The home side doubled their lead 21 minutes after the break through Craig Gardner, whose swerving left-footed shot Mignolet could only palm into the top of the net. Bruce praised his goalkeeper's season but said: "He'll be disappointed with the two goals today."
    Sunderland had seemed to be building towards an equaliser, but they were thwarted by a combination of miscues, another impressive performance in Birmingham's defence from Johnson, and Foster's gloves. The goalkeeper pushed a curling effort from Asamoah Gyan – who had a quiet game – around his far post. He also kept out Cattermole's deflected drive before pushing a point-blank Danny Welbeck header over the bar.
    Jordan Henderson hit the side-netting and had his cross, just after the hour, connected with Danny Welbeck's foot or Sessègnon's forehead, the points might have been shared. But once Birmingham established the two-goal cushion, they settled for holding on to the ball and disrupting any tempo Sunderland could create. Matt Derbyshire might even have added a third in added time, but shot wide.
    The result means Birmingham leapfrog Sunderland into 14th. "That was a big win," McLeish said. "We did our job today. The pressure was on us in a home game and we responded. We've never had an easy game all season."
     Birmingham's Sebastian Larsson shoots past Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to score his team's opening goal. Photograph: David Davies/PA THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    KYM YPRES-SMITH,     SmallHeathAlliance.comWe've been worried for weeks, especially after dipping into the bottom three, but this win means we can breathe again – we just need a few more points to be sure. I think 2-0 was a fair reflection of the game. Our first goal was bizarre but just reward for Larsson – he was our man of the match today, Bowyer also played well. We've still got a lot of injuries but team spirit got us through today.
    The fan's player ratings     Foster 8; Carr 8, Johnson 9, Ridgewell 8, Parnaby 7; Larsson 9 (Fahey n/a), Ferguson 8, Gardner 8, Bowyer 8; Jerome 7 (Derbyshire 90 n/a), Phillips 6 (Hleb 63 7)
    PETE SIXSMITH,     SalutSunderland.comThe game revolved around the two keepers. Mignolet made a crucial error to hand City the lead after we had been the better side. We came out strongly in the second half only for Foster to make two great saves, then Mignolet should have stopped their second. We played well enough at times, but serious pressure is on Bruce now – next week at home to Wigan is a must-win. If we stay up, it will be because of the inadequacies of other teams.
    The fan's player ratings     Mignolet 4; Elmohamady 6, Turner 6, Onuoha 7, Bardsley 7; Henderson 7, Cattermole 6, Colback 6 (Malbranque 5), Sessègnon 5; Gyan 5, Welbeck 4 (Noble 70 6)
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar Discussions

Our Community

Coming Soon

Regional Communities

Coming Soon
Back
Top Bottom
Menu
Forums
New posts
Log in
Register