Fern Mc Costigan: April 2016

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Can Pellegrini and his Boys pull and upset at Madrid’s Bernabeu

Yes, they can, as nothing is impossible for the Citizens Boss El Flaco Pellegrini who can do the ultimate of feats as one last feat with his chaps, to try a heavy upset at Madrid.

With an even score at Etihad and a whole evening of ultimate heroics by both squads’ goalies, this match ended an even scoreboard totally inscribed in plain zeros.

Leaving the second round with an if and question mark of who will try to generate the ultimate of heroics and why the locals who were the Sky Blues couldn’t at least try to put a number in the scoreboard.

As many know that in the second leg the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo will be included in the Galacticos initial eleven and can be a bit of a difficulty for the Manchester chaps backfield to stop his impetuous drive and dynamic of games.

Still the hopes and beliefs from the Boss of the Citizens deposited in his Boys that can pull a favorable score at always-difficult Santiago Bernabeu- Real Madrids all around impressive colossus.

Despite Ronnie being absent in the Madrid Boys starting eleven, still little did Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema could done, after a series of excellent volleys and passes coming from Tony Kross and Pepe in the midfield.

As for your very truly my all around impression and man of the match could been the German midfielder Tony Kross, who made all sorts of opportune and accurate plays that at the end became a waste.

The Spaniards lack a wing and full attack that in several occasions as well controlled by both Brazilians Fernandinho and Fernando who really deserved a star for their stellar performances in the midfield and being so accurate and spontaneous.

Both Amazonians did the ultimate of efforts and their spontaneous approaches in both offensively and defensively prevented the visiting Real Boys of making a catastrophe in Joe Hart’s goalposts. Another hero for the Etihad chaps who excelled in this role of stopping cold in his tracks a Madrid all of its offensive counterattacks.

As Bale and Benzema lacked a bit of drive flor the visiting La Liga squad, so did the locals De Bruyne and Aguero little they did to incommodity Madrid’s Goalie Keylor Navas.

At the end, we saw a very defensive match where both squads’ backfields really did the job and getting a higher mark, as a coincidence both managers put in the field a 4-2-3-1 schemes that at the end little results generated for both squads.

Very well the substitutions done by the Citizens Boss Manuel Pellegrini little they did to start a spark for their cause in a modest and out of form Raheem Sterling and Kelechi Iheanacho who did not showed any of his talents.

For Real Madrid new operates at its helm Zinedine Zidane proving his mettle as a talented Manager and finally putting his Madrid Boys in tune since his arrival. His only move of the game when he replaced Jese for Benzema, his move almost became a fruitful one when the Spaniard came close to a score and the opportunity disregarded in just a simple effort.

The second leg will be one of those matches that both squad’s will really put on their Sundays best with the Citizens going with a certain confidence of pulling an upset at Bernabeau and for the local Real Madrid to finish the deal.

Nothing for no squad and no favorites in the second leg, although the Merengues can count with their star striker Ronaldo, but still the moves that Manchester City Boss can make can make the world for them.

Manuel Pellegrini, success shown at Etihad, if his squad passes in Champions League will be his last achievement done if he gets to the grand finale with his Sky Blues and winning the big long eared trophy.

Being one of the most coveted of trophies missing in the halls of Etihad and something that the Chilean Manager will try to deliver to silence and prove his worthiness as a top notch and world class Manager. Nothing written and anything can happen in favor of the Manchester Boys.

Who will it be Real Madrid or Manchester City to be at the grand finale staged at Milan’s San Siro Stadium Italy on May 28, 2016.

Photo Credit and Property of Action Images, EPA and Telegraph Media Group 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © UEFA Champions League 2016

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Cheers to Crusaders FC the flamboyant champions of the NIPL

Congratulations are in place for a job well done and a repeat of achieving another shield of the 2016 Danske Bank Premiership, for the Boys of central Belfast Crusaders FC.

Once again, the natives from Seaview are lifting the cup proudly under the wise guidance of one of their longest man at their helm, Manager Stephen Baxter.

Who has delivered a whole array of shields since his arrival at this club top spot. Alongside of showing off an impressive collection of shields in two NIPL shields, Irish Cup, Setanta Cup, Irish League Cup and a County Antrim Shield.

So far, the work at this club helm by their Boss considered as a very impressive one and for the records of these club annals and successes contributions since his arrival in 2005!

As one of its mottos states “Keep the Faith”, this club has become a force not mess with, after their match in Seaview against a resilient Coleraine, the Hatchetmen made it 1-0 win.

Sealing the deal with an eight-point lead over their cross town rivals the Linfield Blues and sealing the deal by wrapping the NIPL shield with black and red ribbons already in place for the joyous celebrations at the end.

Still challenges many challenges are for this Crusaders squad looking forward to make an impacting run in the upcoming Champions League eliminations rounds and seeking a possible spot in the always coveted and disputed final spots of this event group stage.

This squad has come a long way and really has shown a lot of character and determination, with this campaign latest achievement.

The Crues overall feeling after seeing their efforts rewarded with back-to-back Gibson Cups, with last campaign winning their first cup, after an eighteen-year drought and this campaign again renewing their efforts once again with another shield.

With “A Little Respect”, this is another of the club motto that states this club hard fought pride and respect.

The newly crowned champions will close their campaign against Glentoran in the Oval, putting an end to this edition of the NIPL on a high and melodious note.

Once again, I applaud the back-to-back feats by the Crusaders FC and in today match playing like true champions and netting an important win over a decimated Coleraine.

Celebrating proudly another chapter and triumph this club long and glorious history.

Photos Credit and Property of © Belfast Telegraph and NIPL2016

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright North Ireland Premier League 2016

The Spurs sucker punch at home derailing their title hopes

For now the aspirations of the Spurs is to believe in miracles and praying for a possible twist of fate in their favor with just three matches left in this edition of Premiership. The hope of seeking a lucky bounce of fortunes in their favor is something that Manager Pochettino will be in the lookout.

After seeing all afternoon long, when the Spurs faithful at White Hart Lane seeing how their Spurs were battling with a very hardened foe that did not had anything to lose but certainly can do the ultimate of damages.

Tony Pulis and his Baggies coming with the label of underdogs and seen as a mere and easy rival to be tamed by its hosts easily. For the Lilywhites dynamic and spectacular game, they have been showing off all campaign long, they could stroll with an easy victory.

The unfortunate side for the home team having all the advantages as the home team and with its initial eleven all complete and no injuries, luck was a word absent in the locals dictionary.

After this part of London Town going into a mad frenzy by the visitors, own goal first score and a whole match dominated by the Spurs backfield by not allowing any liberties to a pushy West Brom squad attempts to score.

Still for Tottenham with a couple of beautiful plays from the midfield orchestrated nicely between Alli and Kane who saw his near goal shoot hit the post and the ball bounce outside. The second attempt came when on another well-created play from Erickson passing it to the center for Lamela and once again that infamous post that prevented another go-ahead goal for the Spurs.

There’s something on every squad that Tony Pulis manages and always plays the role of spoiler, as many remember when he was at Crystal Palace how they prevented Liverpool coronation and once again history repeated with his Albion Boys.

Seeing in Craig Dawson redeemed himself after scoring in his own goal in the first half and later returning the favor by scoring the goal that would left the score even at one goal a apiece.

Derailing and putting to an abrupt halt in the Spurs title hopes.

Maybe next year, as this northern part of London Town can brace itself of seeing another spectacular run for the league title with a much mature squad returning in its whole majority and honoring their motto “To Dare is to Do”.

Hope and faith are among the favorite words for the Northern Londoners after this match and three remaining that include matches next week in a solid and always disputed London Derby with archrivals the Chelsea Blues at Stamford Bridge.

The Spurs close their regular campaign with two matches left at home against Poches former squad Southampton and as a visitor at St. James to play a renewed Newcastle United.

Considered these three matches important as well the results being positive for this squad so far presenting a very amazing campaign and with their hopes being deposited till its end, seeking a miracle at the end.

As well seeing how Leicester City having a not so easy schedule too with Manchester United playing at Old Trafford and closing with Everton at home at King Power and at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

There is a possibility anything can happen for Manager Mauricio Pochettino and his Boys for now they must forget the sucker punch and focus in each one of their next compromises, as they were playing a final.

Photo Credit and Property of Rex, Getty, Reuters and Telegraph Media Group 2016

Monday, April 25, 2016

Dundalk FC teaches the Rovers a lesson at home

It happened on Tallaght Stadium where the Boys of Pat Fenlon, attempted to master the likes of the defending champions Dundalk Lilywhites and the end the results were a bit odd for the locals.

Losing to a visiting and first place Lilywhite squad was not a pleasing experience for the Hoops Boss as well not gaining any ground in the general table.

As he much anticipated, netting a win was a step in the right direction and a shoot of optimism to beat the top squad in Republic of Ireland Premier League. After all of his initial plans were to turn things around, for the best in Tallaght.

As for the visiting champions looking to net, a treble in the Airtricity League of Ireland, by making it three league shields in a row, is somehow a mission not impossible for this club and its ways of playing a formidable and dominant football.

As for their Manager Stephen Kenny is business as usual and preparing for many challenges ahead for his club in international and internal play, especially if this time he can net a pass into the coveted Champions League elite group stages.

Along of several of the internal competitions the Airticity league offers and the opportunity to net more feats converted into shields to its halls of Oriel Park back at Loth.

A very tough loss to digest for the Hoops and especially in front of their faithful, after coming from a league match against their cross town rivals the Bohs, were they buried this squad in what was seen as a total goal fest and a total dominance.

Along of enjoying a two game winning streak, the Rovers wanted more.

Getting back to this match, where Hoops defender David Webster scoring on his own posts for the joy of the visitors and seeing a former teammate in Ronan Finn scoring the go-ahead goal.

The match suddenly turned in favor all evening long for the defending champions.

The Shamrock Rovers never showed off any insistence or desires of mounting an all-around challenge of a comeback and finished the match with 10 men for a losing cause. Something that Manager Pat Fenlon, after this loss, suddenly he got his reality check in place.

After coming from a two game winning streak the Hoops now are bound to always difficult Turner’s Cross Park and play a hardened Cork City in a match considered of who will continue its ascent to the top of the league table.

At the end, this match showed up the might of Dundalk quest to once again to dominate the league from start to finish as for the local Shamrock Rovers its time to regroup and start once again its ambitious plan Manager Fenlon originally planned.