Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Harry Kane establishing himself among the elite



With another memorable afternoon at London colossus Wembley Stadium, Boy Wonder Harry Kane did it again, by scoring a treble and placing himself among the world’s elite with an all-around authority.

No doubt, the Spurs top Gun is to rub elbows with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Why because this chap is carrying his squad among the top spots and despite this being a tough campaign for the Lilywhites, still these are placed among the top four spots in the overall table.
As they, state the best is yet to come.

Even though that hurtful loss against Manchester City a few weeks ago, a couple of draws and not successful London Derbies one by tying against troubled West Brom and the other losing to their cross town archrivals Arsenal.

This became a sort of wakeup call for Poche and company, despite some notable results some were not to positive against a draw against Watford and later a loss to Leicester City seen as a confidence booster for the Foxes.

Still playing on Boxing Day nothing to do with this sport, but the way the Spurs displayed their game today in the field against a low down Southampton, by knocking the living lights out of the Saints with a goal rout.

For manager Mauricio Pochettino this game considered as a homecoming and reunion with the squad he made them a contender and uplifting them as one of the best academies in Premiership and seeing the sorry state they are.

The Spurs came determined to win this match and take advantage of the situation the Saints are going through, despite their position in the table and their records, Poche and company did not took their foes lightly in the course of the whole match.

As the Saints marched in with a couple of goals from Sofiane Boufal 64 and Dusan Tadic 82, were a wakeup call for the Spurs defense in the second half making the Andean sent strict orders to put a tight grip on the visitors strikers.

Being the second half when the match became a serious goal fest were both squads display their mettle and arsenals to show off seven goals in this match, being Harry Kane the man of the match.

In the first half and goal that Kane score on a cross from Christian Eriksen in the 22 that opened the score and Boy Wonder breaking the record that stood since 1995 from Alan Shearer and later doing the same to Lionel Messi.

For Eriksen missing the Saints posts despite his efforts, still his participation and assists became too valuable for Kane that the second goal in the 39 was a product of a pass from the Dane to Heung- Min for the second goal.

The second half once again both squads were looking to beat each pother goal posts and a Dele Alli with an individual effort he scores the third goal of the match in the 49 and increasing the lead to 3-0.

Still the next play Dele Alli once again made his presence with a pass to Son Heung- Min for the 4-0 with 51 minutes in the clock and for the delirium of the Spurs followers seeing a total dominance in this match.

One more time we were to see the likes of Super Harry with a Spurs counter attack and Alli once again making his presence felt with a nice pass to Kane for the final goal and knockout punch for Southampton despite another goal these score.

At the end, their rally felt short, the Spurs rise to another win set in back to back fashion, and now looking forward to their next league compromise against Swansea set on January 2 2018, this win put them in sole command of fourth place. 

Moreover, for Harry Kane a dandy of a day with a treble and two records and consolidating his name to be among the elite of world football, now he and his Spurs are in the need of a shield to crown a stellar career.

 
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Monday, December 25, 2017

The Linfield Blues still on the hunt



After their win at home on the weekend over Cliftonville, the Linfield Blues are looking forward to mount an all-around comeback like the one they did last campaign that gave them the league shield.

So far, being on the hunt for the league shield is one of the Blues Boss David Healy, looking forward to see a tumble from league leaders Coleraine, Crusaders FC and Glenavon, in their quest of catapulting to the league top.

Seeded in fourth place tied with Cliftonville with 40 points but with a goal differential in their favor, the Blues are one unstoppable entity and in the end, these bring out their best football and with time in their favor before the league folds.

We are to embrace for an all-around contest in the North Ireland Football League.

Still after their weekend in over the weary Reds, the Blues cool is endless and now looking forward to their upcoming compromises in Boxing Day against Glentoran and later in the weekend with their cross-town foes Crusaders FC.

Bracing for another NIFL Belfast Derby, manger Healy is back to business and looking in every match three points considered of gold for him and his bunch in order to be in contention when the league is in its agonizing stages.

Still that triumph over the weekend at home at Windsor Park considered as an important as well valuable in their quest of moving on up the overall table and despite these trailing on third place by two points over Glenavon.

The Blues aims are not to quit until the last day of the campaign. 

Going back to this match over the weekend and considered as a crucial if not important win over their cross Belfast foes the Reds, in this Derby the Blues with a couple of scores in each half, the locals impose their condition of local with a total dominance in the match.

Despite the win this did not come easy after the Reds strikers in the first half put the Blues kper Andy Carroll to work extra and despite the dangers lurking for the experienced keeper and the resolute determination of the Blues backfield.

At the end these persevered and putting condition throughout the whole course of the match, these delivered to their fans a wondrous Christmas joy and gift with a win considered in the eyes of its manager as valuable.

With goals on the first half by Stephen Fallon in the 21 and in the second half via Andrew Waterworth in the 56, the Blues seal the deal and win preparing them for Boxing Day to extend their winning streak.

Do not count the Linfield bunch out of contention as in the end this squad gets recharge and readies itself for the next three months considered vital for the top three squads looking forward to defend their positions.

 
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Photos Credit and Property of Coleraine FC and INPHO/Brian Little 2017

Photos Credit and Property of © 2017 Northern Ireland Football League  

Glenavon Boys efforts paid off



These Glens are playing lately a wondrous football and making a statement of not being minnows, so far in this weekend with a win over Dungannon Swifts that catapulted them to third place in the overall table.

As manager Gary Hamilton so far in the campaign is making of this Lurgan based squad a one of a kind contender and keeping a close chase over second place Crues and first place Bannsiders. 

With 42 points and six out of second place Crusaders and twelve from surprising first placeholders Coleraine, the heat is on in the Dasnke Banke Premiership with three months to go, the league shield can be up for grabs.

So for the Glens after a notorious away win at Stangmore Park and three points that keeps them in the hunt for first, and with their next compromise against Warrenpoint Town at home on Boxing Day and on the weekend against Ballymena United away.

Their levels of confidence are up and running to go for another valuable and important win.

Still the way these delivered with that amazing football displayed lately by the Glens, it gives this Armaugh County based squad an all-around motivation to continue on their quest of winning the top prize in the NIFL.

Going to this past weekend match were the Glens via midfielder Sammy Clingan with a couple of scores in the second half in the 49 via a penal and in the 73, alongside an early goal in the firsts half by Mark Sykes in the 21.

Very well showing off a ferrous and belligerent defense playing like an armada, these Glens have everything to be in contention of the league utmost of prizes, still with time left in the league schedule, anything can happen.

As in this match against the Swifts, Gary Hamilton saw the fruits of his work with his initial eleven after these displayed an all-around overzealousness in defending the posts of Jonathan Tuffey who persevere for a clean sheet.

After seeing the Swifts first half determination but not delivering after seeing a determined and resilient Glens defense, but the attack from the visiting Lurgan squad did took advantage of their opportunities placed upon them.

Before halftime the Glens had the lead with a lone goal and in the second sealing the deal with a couple more goals for the win and maintain a two points lead over Clintonville and Linfield in third place. 

At the end, Glenavon is for real and looking to close their stellar and one of a kind campaign, these are having as well looking forward to close with their efforts not going in vain.


 
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Photos Credit and Property of Coleraine FC and INPHO/Matt Mackey 2017

Photos Credit and Property of © 2017 Northern Ireland Football League  

Saturday, December 23, 2017

In the battle of United’s the Magpies got the best part



Just like the old days whenever these titans used to stage epic battles between them with no danger of relegation to haunt these two as the way they are currently experiencing it in this campaign.

Still after 10 matches lost in a consecutive way, the Geordies finally have something to celebrate.

By getting the best part of sudden resuscitated West Ham Boys looking forward to net, a valuable win and after playing at home, that would kept them as far possible from the relegation spots and allowed them to continue forward in their quest of salvation.

I do considered todays match in London Stadium as the game of the week, for all the display of fireworks and fight put by the Hammers and the Magpies in the field that at the end despite the result in favor of the visitors.

That catapults Rafael Benitez squad out of the danger zone and in fifteenth place and eighteen points giving the Spaniard a sort of confidence and hope of seeing in the upcoming transfers market a few good men to lead this squad towards a positive ending.

Despite of the tug of war between them and their hosts, at the end sheer perseverance and a fighting spirit was the sole responsible of seeing the Newcastle Boys netting in what became a pivotal win for Benitez and company.

The win does not assures anything for the Tyne- Daly Boys but exposes many flaws in this squad especially in defense when his initial eleven bubu, when a failed pass was intercepted by the Hammers Marko Arnautovic and with his push beat the likes of Newcastle keeper Elliot.

With just six minutes in the clock already sent the whole of a sold out London Stadium into a frenzy by the West Ham followers caressing a possible win and seeing a continuance of their revival and for their Boss David Moyes an all-around recovery.

One thing the Magpies came determined to play this one and not allow anything deterred their plans, but don’t count Tyneside out, after four minutes passed by the visitors showed they can play ball too.

With a free kick awarded to Newcastle after Hammers Winston Reid foul, the shoot measured about fifty yards out by Henri Saivet, his cannon delivered a wondrous shoot that beat the likes of the Academy keeper Robert Elliot.

Suddenly we have a contest and this match was to become a disputed one between these two titans.

After halftime, the battle begun between these two, as the clock showed off 53 minutes Christian Atsu sent a center into the area for a well-placed Mohamed Diame giving the visitors the lead.

Still the Irons had a lot of fight to put into this match, when the locals Michael Antonio draws the foul inside the area and the game official awarding the penalty in favor of the locals, Andre Ayew was to miss the penal.

Elevating the confidence of the visiting Magpies and in the 61 minute when the Toon Boys taking advantage of the Hammers defensive lapse, their counter attack culminated with a nice pass combination from Joselu to Christian Atsu for the go-ahead goal.

As the Hammers initial eleven seeing in disbelief, these did not gave up on mounting an attack and delivering when a corner taken and after a failed header by Andy Carroll.

A well placed and opportune Andre Ayew consolidating himself after missing a penalty earlier, he took the rebound and never hesitated to push the ball took the rebound for the second goal that at the end the Hammers rally fell short taking the loss.

In the battle of United’s, Newcastle got the better part and win considered by their Boss as valuable!


Happy Holidays


 
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