Fern Mc Costigan: December 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

A New Year’s resolution for Liverpool, just win!

What a win to close this 2016 for the Liverpool Reds, after overcoming the odds and dominating a match in its entire ninety minutes and maintain a win considered as valuable.

In what many dubbed this bout as the game of the week and one that had all the elements of an all-around Derby between two of Premiership giants.

The Liverpool Reds were to play the Manchester City Citizens, once again the faceoff between Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp was to renew, from their Bundesliga days last meeting in April 2015.

This time we had a new scenario in the English Premier League and with two foes that now each other and with rivalry that spans from quite sometime and considered as spectacular and contested in this league.

This so called clash of the Titans, to close the New Year with a bang, as both squads were in need of a much-needed win and keep their chase towards the top spots in the league currently held by the London giants Chelsea FC.

Nevertheless, closing the year with a win, a treasured one by the Reds Boss Jürgen Kloop, is something to be proud and happy- as the chase is on behind the Londoners, making it interesting despite the Pensioners six points lead at the top of Premiership.

For the Sky Blues seeing their luck going down, as December has not been a kind month for them, despite important win over Arsenal, their lack of attention and focus has been a factor for those two losses against Leicester City and today with Liverpool.

As Pep Guardiola so far stated that, his aims are not the league shield but maintain his squad among the top four on an interview given in a English tabloid, as this sqaud is built for much higher and spectacular spots.

In the case of the Reds, after losing key matches against modest Bournemouth and Burnley and a draw against West Ham, so far has shadowed the Reds push to the top and maybe if these odd results not happen, we had a different story in the EPL top.

Still tonight’s match that sent the whole Kop into total a state of turmoil, after seeing their Boys delivering an important step towards one of their main aims, the league shield and returning this club into the top spots of this league.

Closing the year in a high note is something to celebrate loudly and with the prospects of reaching new heights after the arrival of one of the winningest managers in football as the way he wrote his own history during his days with Borussia Dortmund.

A win to cherish but with a price for the Liverpool squad, as these have a rare Monday match against relegation prone Sunderland FC and for Klopp and company, they must play this match with the utmost of respect and not underestimate his foes, despite their struggles.

Challenging and not an easy enterprise for Klopp and his bunch as the heat is on and with a little luck these can see a stumble in the first place Blues and it’s when the time, is appropriate to take over the league top.

At the end, work is still to perform by both of these men as for Pep Guardiola, these two losses in a single month, raises a red flag in the confines of Etihad and maybe it is time to make some adjustments in his eleven.

That at the end could spell into positive results for his Citizens and allowed to be in contention.

For Jürgen Kloop so far the latest results earned are delivering as he anticipated after taking over the reins in Anfield and in little amounts, he is seeing a positive outlook of what is to come and the arsenal he counts on the field.

Not relying just in one player but in the initial eleven he places in the field, as one or two of his front men are seriously guarded, he has other opened to cause damage to the opposing squad as in today’s hero of the match midfielder Giorgio Wijnaldum.

This win sows off the importance of each one of his players in the field and bench, a the moves the German makes, so far are greeted with excellent results for his Reds.

The author of the lone goal in the 8^th minute and was sufficient thanks to a stingy and overzealous Liverpool defensive backfield that calmed and dominated the Citizens attack all match long until its end and you know its outcome.

Liverpool is a becoming a serious foe to mess with, if Manager Jürgen Klopp maintains his squad consistency in its results we may have a possible championship back at the Kop, win is the word!

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2016

TO MY DEAR READERS A PROSPEROUS, BLEESED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017!

A timely Barkley held the Tigers to a mingy point

Are you watching Gareth Southgate, Ross Barkley is one of a kind Toffee and he is for real to be considered as national team material mate, after his timely intervention that denied a struggling Tigers the win.

After the Tigers amazing and spectacular, free kick by midfielder Robert Snodgrass, the KCOM colossus in Hull City went into frenzy as they though that this veteran of many battles with this play was to translate it into a win.

For Mike Phelan, Hull’s City Boss, his frustrations seen immediately, after seeing how a win for his bunch escaped from their grasps after a brief blink.

Still his satisfaction was to see how his initial eleven put on a fight and never let down, after they opened the scoreboard, with just six minutes in the clock and opening the possibilities of this squad to deliver three points of gold.

Remember the Tigers are battling for their permanency in the top circuit.

Alongside Swansea and Sunderland, that these two succumbed to their respective rivals and the fight for survival is still on and with no immediate solution for any of these three squads.

Still a point is a point and for Hull City eleven despite their all-around efforts of making a decent run in each one of their matches, they come up short and victims of their down luck, despite of their efforts showed in the field, these come up short.

A match that the locals really had in their pocket and dominated until those two scores, especially that fatidic one that an opportune Ross Barkley deliver to silence the whole of KCOM Stadium.

One thing to applaud is the efforts and consistency showed by Mike Phelan squad in the field and with a total determination that came short of delivering a big blow to the visiting Toffees, as the pupils of Ronnie Koeman lately, have been playing a decent football.

As the former Dutch great, was looking forward to a meritorious win and three points to continue their ascent in the overall table in Premiership, but they underestimated the local Tigers and these almost played the role of spoilers to the Toffees.

For Mike Phelan the Hull City Boss, he is aware of the upcoming load of work he has and one of them is to focus in making his defensive backfield a solid one, here is where his squad problems lie and in this match that weak spot became evidently exposed.

The only problem for Phelan is that he has to fight against a front office so expense conservative that he will not be able to add a player or two in this winter market to reinforce his multiple weak spots and try to take a stand in the league second half.

In the case of the Everton side, Ronnie Koeman cannot wait for the transfers market opening to reinforce his side and bump it up a notch to contend and see if his squad can make a run into the top four spots.

Difficult but not impossible the endeavor ahead for Koeman as well correct some details in his starting eleven to become more consistent in the second half were it will count and see if he can deliver a European spot or a shield in cup competition.

Especially in matches and squads that the Academy of Science can deliver valuable wins and play more seriously and with more heart and courageously, at the end thanks to Ross Barkley the Everton squad saved its hive and rescue the draw.

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2016

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Ballymena United poised for Europe

With a raucous win over the lads of Coleraine on Boxing Day, the visiting Sky Blues of Ballymena United took another giant step in their quest of netting a European spot, with just 5 points behind, third place Cliftonville FC.

Going to a sold out and difficult Showgrounds at Coleraine County.

With both squads keeping a close pursuit of the last spot, the league has for the Europa League tourney, as both Braidmen and Bansiders keeping a close pursuit of that last coveted spot and within their range.

Still the match had all the elements of an all-around final and the Coleraine Bunch using their home to their advantage, these thought that they would score a tumultuous win in front of their faithful as well add the necessary points to keep in the chase.

In the case of David Jeffrey initial eleven, prepared in all the aspects and not missing any aspect of a tough and rigorous series of preparations before their Boxing Day match as a visitor squad, the Sky Blues came prepared and poised for everything.

The spectacle began in the tenth minute by the visiting Braidmen, when defender Tony Kane cross hit a bullseye to an opportune and determined Cathair Friel, who with a diving play and a beautiful header to push the ball and leaving the whole of Showgrounds in shock.

With a lone goal lead, the visitors wanted toad more to the count and in the 43^rd minute, once again the Sky Blues defender Tony Kane made himself present with the second goal of the match before intermission.

Sentencing the match and despite the locals pressure and arrivals at Russ Glendinning box, this chap sis the ultimate of saves that if the ball would made it in, the match would ended in a different manner and a bit contested.

Stopping the momentum the local Bansiders started and the score would start a comeback for the locals and make the match more two sided.

At the end, the whole afternoon was to be for the Ballymena United chaps who put on a display of fine and technical football after a series of grand plays practiced on Christmas Eve rigorous training set for several of the Sky Blues players.

Something in the eyes of their Boss David Jeffrey that really paid off after seeing his side put on a contest and took a valuable win, playing as a visitor.

For now the Sky Blues seat pretty in the overall table in fourth place with 39 points and within striking distance of the Reds, who they lost to the league leading Crusaders on Boxing Day.

This wins sets the tone for the Braidmen to start their push toward the league top and with time until this tourney ends on March, these have the opportunity of netting the last spot for European competitions representing the NIPL.

To close the year the Braidmen are heading to Bangor and play at Clandeboye Park against the Ards FC Boys on the 31^st in another crucial match for the Sky Blues.

With a win and a loss combined by the Reds, Ballymena United will be within third place by just three points.

Very well looking forward to play the best of Europe in the next elimination rounds to reach the always-coveted knockout round, but for now the Sky Blues must hope and pray for the miracle as well continue with their winning ways.

Photos Credit and Property of Ballymmena United FC 2016

Photos Credit and Property of Lorcan Doherty Press Eye and Picture Magic Studios UK 2016

Those tenacious Reds keeping a heated chase

A Liverpool reaction that put a worrisome face in the Citizens Boss Pep Guardiola, sitting in the stands at Anfield and seeing how his former Bundesliga foe Jürgen Klopp and his Boys made this match looked a bit easy.

With the motto in the stands of the Kop that states, “You never walk alone”, the Reds put a display of one of the utmost of footballs with an inspired Firminho, Sturridge and Lallana that elevated their club to a grand win.

This win situates the Merseyside Boys to a close six-point chase towards the top, held currently by the unbeatable Antonio Conte’s Chelsea Blues.

You state why was Pep at the stands in the colossus of Merseyside, one simple reason to observe his foes for next week New Year’s Eve match against Liverpool, considered this match totally with the status of a Derby.

Still this match was not an easy enterprise for the Reds and playing with such caution against a rival that many can state as easy, at the end the locals did not trust their instincts and played a wonderful football.

From start to finish, the Reds saw how the Stoke City squad came prepared to play the role of spoilers and with an early goal, the Potters opened the hostilities in the 12^th minute with a score from their man upfront Jonathan Walters.

That did early goal and being behind the first twelve minutes deterred the reds of putting in display their new football instituted by Manager Kloop and in the 34^th minute the response from the hosts was sealed by Adam Llallana in the 34^th minute.

No later than ten minutes when the flying Brazilian Roberto Firminho put the scores ahead in the 44^th minute with a nice shoot for the 2-1 and going to intermission with a one goal lead over the visiting Potters.

As the second half started, the heat was on for the visitors and in the 57^th when one of its midfielders in Giannelli Imbula score an own goal and the Reds continuance of dominating the match, their lead extended to 3-1.

Eleven minutes after, it’s when Daniel Sturridge coming as a substitute for forward Divock Origi, sealed the deal with the final goal to send all of Anfield into a frenzy.

Once again the wisdom of Kloop was evident after using his traditional 4-3-3 formation in contrast of the Potters Boss Hughes putting just three defenders in a 3-5-2 that at the end saw a barrage of errors and making it easy for the Reds strikers.

Now the goal for the Reds Boss is to continue his successful run but with an upcoming challenge that can translate into a win to close with a bang the first, half of Premiership and over the Sky Blues will be an awesome feat.

From now on, the aim of the Liverpool squad is to finish strong from the start of 2017 until the league conclusion in May with the hopes of netting a league shield, but the way the Blues are playing this campaign to decide at the end.

Despite the Potters reactions on and on during the match, the outlook of the match was already decided by the locals and by sheer dominance in the front and its backfield fab four defended overzealous its goal posts.

Come next week and closing this 2016 of Premiership action, the Merseyside Derby will be the highlight in Premiership, once again Klopp and Guardiola meet again since their last time these had a face off in April 2015.

The heat is on for both of these gladiators as their squads are in need of a win and keep a close pace on the league leaders Chelsea and looking forward to a stumble from the Londoners and these can make a leap towards the coveted league top.