Saturday, December 30, 2017

Not so fast, as these Swans are not giving up



With a new man in their helm and renewed hopes for the Swansea bunch, after today valuable win at Vicarage Road against a resurgent Watford, this win in the Carlos Carvalhal era hailed as important.

The Portuguese first day in the job returned the ideal of believers into this squad followers and players alike after many stumble’s this squad has been subject too, that became the doom of his predecessor job.

For Carlos Carvalhal coming with an impressive CV under his arms, during his days in the helm of Sheffield Wednesday and in last campaign in the Championship playoff he and his bunch almost caressed promotion to Premiership.

This time his magic is delivering and with this result and playing away earning an important win that builds this squad confidence in the upcoming second half, this last match before the New Years, gave the Swans a reason to be hopeful and confident.

Still there is quite a ways to see this campaign end and with matches a plenty to play, the best is yet to come for these troubled Swans looking at whatever expense a way to get out of their negative streak and now start playing a decent game of football.

One thing for sure the Swansea Boys came prepared to play and today was the ideal match to show off their mettle and energy to put this game past them and with a win to close the year at least with a positive.

Today was not easy for neither squad as the Hornets saw a determined and initiative filled visiting initial eleven the Swans manager sent to the field showing a lot of hunger and spirit to play a successful game of football.

Ask that to a busy and stellar in defense in goalie Lukasz Fabianski who has carry this squad in the darkest times and despite the odd results that could been worst, the man from Poland has delivered in the toughest of times.

However, as the Swans saw the likes of their lead man leave to Walton, Liverpool in Gylfy Sigurdsson and to Haringey, London Fernando Llorrente, still this club has some fight in its current squad and this match these showed off their resolve.

In this match with a series of important stops, in the  11 minute after an escape on the left side by Watford Richarlison, and a refusal from Fabiansky, the time could not be better for Andre Carrillo that beating a Swansea defender and with the rebound  he score on a header.

As the whole of Vicarage Park went into frenzy after finally their Orns came alive with the first score.

Despite the first goal and the lead being in favor of the local Yellow Army, these created an array of opportunities to extend their lead; it is when the Swans defense stepped up and stopped the Hornets momentum towards their posts.

After the second half, the Watford squad looked like they were going to deliver a notable win and three points in their quest of moving up on the general table, this was until the furious reaction of the visiting Swans.

Alongside of a tireless man in Jordan Ayew looking at every cost to score at least the equalizer, after various intents, finally the ideal moment came when opportunity knocked after a rebound inside the Watford area.

 When Oliver Mc Burnie missed his opportunity the rebound came to the feet of Jordan Ayew, by pushing the ball and despite the heated protests from the Watford players of a possible offside, the play stand in the 86 minute.

No later not even four minutes passed by when  Luciano Narsingh beat the likes of the Orns keeper Heurelho Gomes for the go ahead and final goal in the 90 minute for the dismay of the locals manager Marco Silva and a sold out Vicarage Road seeing in disbelief how their squad succumbed.

Having faith and organization will be the elemental pieces to see this club salvation at the end of the campaign, for now this win is a boost to the aspirations of the Swans manager and its players to continue ahead with a positive attitude.


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Thursday, December 28, 2017

For in this edition of El Belfastico, Glentoran broke the Blues dominance



One of the most celebrated and filled with headlines match in the so-called Belfastico or Belfast Derby, considered as one of the longest of rivalries between Glentoran and Linfield.

Ever since this contest began, the Linfield Blues have shown an upper hand.

This time ended courtesy of a late score from one of the Glens player ending Linfield all around winning streak and control in these contests.

With these two titans, first ever meeting between these two, dating since October 1, 1887 and so far the Linfield bunch having the best part in these meetings with 221 wins over 128 wins from Glentoran’s and 106 draws.

As this meeting considered one of the most popular and attended in the NIFL, whenever these two squads take part and always these Derbies to set to play on Boxing Day, this time the Glnes were to host this edition of El Belfastico.

With the Oval showing off its best, the Glentoran Boys were ready to make this match a total contest and try with their best efforts to net an important result, despite the Blues having the upper hand and to obtain a positive score considered an overall challenge.

As he tale of the tape showed a local Glentoran with 29 points and placed in sixth spot in the overall table, as for the Blues battling with Clintonville the fourth position and with 40 points, the odds of David Healy and company was enormous.

Still the long story of the Sandy Row Boys from South Belfast coming as heavily favorites to win another edition of the Derby after a six consecutive years of total dominance over the Glens, today the outcome became a little different in the final score of this match.

This time the Glens manager was ready for the faceoff against one of his squad most antagonized of foes, and sending a 4-2-3-1 formation with a lone striker in Curtis Allen accompanied by a threesome in Jonathan Smith, Dylan Davinson and James Knowles.

In the Blues corner manager Healy with a more offensive 4-4-2 formation with Nial Quinn and Robert Garrett up front leading the offense for the visiting crew, this match had all the elements of an all-around contest.

These matches have, the tendency of being a total sold out for the display of good and highly disputed football whenever these two squads meet, as the Oval was to a near sold out but still was one raucous venue.

As the opportunities galore for the local Glens and a goal annulled after a clear offside, the Blues opened the hostiles with an early goal in the 26 minute via Cameron Stewart for the opening lead after a miscalculated pass from the local’s defense.

This to the delight of the visiting Blues followers in the Oval and support their Boys.

However before the half ended, the Glens rally for the equalizer, after a foul on one of the Glens player that created a still play and a free kick that in the rebound Curtis Allen converted in the 43 minute.

As the second half being in its last minutes played on injury time, it’s when a solid Glens play became an own goal for the Blues that at the end became the game winner in the 91 minute.

At the end the visitors score that could become the equalizer, the flagman annulled the goal, for the joy of the local Glentoran fans seeing their side win with style.


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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

With win number 18, these Citizens are unbeatable



Wow, eighteen and counting as the Manchester City Boys are riding high and with an all-around momentum as they are the team to beat in the upcoming second half of Premiership. 

Still they have a match on New Year’s Eve against Crystal Palace at the London colossus of Selhurst Park, putting their undefeated streak on the line against resurgent Eagles.

Who will ever imagine that a squad in last campaign that had its share of struggles and not winning a single shield now is looking invincible and determined to win it all in this edition of Premiership.

Not only looking for the FA and Carabao Cups and the Barclays Shield but also going after the granddaddy of trophies the Champions League, the most elusive of trophies this club has not won in its single story and now is bracing among the favorites to win it all.

Coming to play against a suddenly recovered Geordies squad and at the place these play their best game, the Toon, the Sky Blues were to have their hands full against a squad suddenly becoming a competitive entity.

Yes one more win and the Citizens can tie that winning streak Pep deliver in his days at Allianz Arena with Bayern Munich where his Bundesliga giants recorded 19 wins on the 2013-14 campaign, and now this record will be up for grabs come December 31st.

Not only Manchester City is looking unbeatable but as well out of reach by its foes, especially its cross town foes Manchester United trailing by a total of fifteen points and by far the race for the shield is far from over for Mourinho and Conte.

Still this win did not came easy as the Man City Boys displaying a tactical and offensive minded 4-3-3 formation this time with Bernado Silva, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling up front in the attacking core.

The visitors were clear favorites of putting a display of fireworks offensively and the end these missed miserably and were at the mercy of their hosts who started a rally in the last minutes of the match as substitute Dwight Gayle came within inches of scoring the equalizer.

However, the win for the Citizens considered in league circles to show off a very stingy and resilient defensive backfield that did not allowed the locals offensive game to shine and preserving the clean sheet for Ederson.

For Magpies manager Rafael Benitez, despite seeing his side succumbed to City, still this match showed off a lot of improvements and new competiveness in his initial eleven, elevating the possibilities of making a decent run in the second half.

In addition, of seeing, a domain Sky Blues offensive display at work, with Kevin De Bruyne missing the posts in three occasions, along with Sergio Aguero, Ikay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling not being on target, at the end Sterling’s perseverance became the ultimate factor.

As the first half-lone goal scored by Raheem Sterling in the 31 with assistance from Kevin De Bruyne for the lone goal and what became his 13 of the campaign in the winning cause.


 
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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

At the rhythm of Samba, Liverpool delivered a goal fest



To the beat of Samba, Liverpool’s Brazilian duo delivered a one of a kind match at home and not letting their followers down at a sold out Anfield Stadium, by displaying a genuine football Carioca style.

Ask that to an inspired Phillipe Coutinho and Roberto Firminho being on target.

At the pace of a Jogo bonito, or beautiful game- these two made it a rout over a decimated and weak Swansea squad lacking not only creativity but also a man in its helm to level things around in this Welsh squad.

Still this match looked like a match played in the Verde Amarelha by the displayed by this Amazonia duo always showing off their mettle as a sort of preparation for the upcoming World Cup.

As the Liverpool bunch came prepared to play football today and for the pleasure of their Boss Jürgen Klopp, who saw a display a top of the line football by his Reds making all sorts of readiness for the end of a successful first half.

With this win, the Merseyside Boys are bracing for a contested second half and looking very resilient in order to make a run towards the top of the league spots as well looking ready for a prolific Champions League run.

On the home front, Klopp and company must endure a tough series of challenges ahead as he would like to make a serious run toward the league top if the Citizens falter in the end and maybe an opportunity to take over the top.

Despite the rumors of Coutinho possible move to Spanish side Barcelona, the possibility of him staying put at the Kop is among one of the aces in the sleeve by the German as well looking forward to a winter market to reinforce one of his weakest spots, the defensive backfield.

What a game the Reds are showing off lately, and today taking advantage of their foes weakness but still to underestimating them and not taking them lightly, the Reds strikers were on target and despite not seeing the likes of Mohamed Salah scoring, still he was a top contributor.

In addition of not scoring this time but showing off with a couple of assistances alongside Phillipe Coutinho adding another one for the cause, these two culminated with perfection filled match with  fireworks aplenty.

Starting with a Salah pass to Coutinho and the Brazilian finishing with style for the lead of one goal in the 6-minute persevering this score until the end of the first half and leaving the best to come for the second half.

in the course of minute 52 Firminho took advantage of a nice pass from Salah to convert and extend the lead to a raucous Anfield becoming believers in their Reds and seeing an offensive display by its initial eleven converting with a high degree of success.

Later came the first goal in Premiership by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 65 not even a minute passed when Firminho second goal in the 66 gave the Reds a 4-0 lead and with time in the clock for the visitors to mount an offense.

Leaving the stage for Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain to score his first goal at Anfield in the 82 minute making it look like this was a practice game for the Red when he got his own rebound after the Swans defense could not clear and deliver the fifth goal of the evening.

If Jürgen Klopp gets his wish fulfilled of reinforcing his backfield and a couple of top notch fullbacks, we may have an unstoppable force in the Liverpool Reds looking forward to make an spectacular close of this campaign and why not with a shield.

This of course if their cross Merseyside foes Manchester City will yield a little but nothing is written or won until the end of the campaign, for now Jürgen Kloop and company desires will be to finish among the top four.

 
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