Newcastle 2 - 2 West Brom

 

Are they trying to make it easy for us?!

Carlisle had their first defeat in 6 league games.

 

This evening they are up against Leeds in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

What a surprise. City are outclassed for most of the first half so have to cheat their way into the equaliser. Epic.

I've never understood how a ref making an incorrect decision manages to become cheating by the opposition...

Tbf Bellamy made QUITE a meal of nothing in the box.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manch...icle292299.html

 

^ The Man City team talk for tonight.

 

Well done Gary Neville.

 

Gary Neville is a complete twat.

 

Until Man City for the penalty they never looked liked scoring. Their midfield was non-existant. Bellamy, Tevez and Given were class though. A draw probably would have been the fair result. Regardless of the result, I still think Man Utd will go through mind. Just means they've lost a bit of bragging rights for the next week...

Gary Neville is a complete twat.

 

Until Man City for the penalty they never looked liked scoring. Their midfield was non-existant. Bellamy, Tevez and Given were class though. A draw probably would have been the fair result. Regardless of the result, I still think Man Utd will go through mind. Just means they've lost a bit of bragging rights for the next week...

 

I fully expect Manchester United to go through to the Final as well. But Wayne Rooney tonight played as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders (or was it the £700million debt!). I nearly felt sorry for him.

 

But as I was saying all last season, only an idiot could think Berbatov was worth £30 million and that Tevez was not worth keeping. (And let's not even begin discussing the fact SAF refused to offer more than £14.5 million for Fernando Torres; and then goaded Liverpool when they paid a reported maximum £24.5m for him; that Liverpool had paid way over the odds for the Spanish striker).

 

2009-10 Season Matches-Goals:

 

Berbatov 24-7

Tevez 25-18

Torres 20-12

 

 

Manchester United PL matches-goals:

 

Berbatov 49-16

 

Liverpool PL matches-goals:

 

Torres 72-50

 

 

No doubt Gary Neville and co will put it down to lies damn lies and statistics. But you have to be in cloud cuckoo land if you think Berbatov is a great striker worth every penny of that £30m.

I agree Tevez was way more worth than Berbatov, but I cant help but think that article is somewhat... exxagerated from fact. It is The Mirror after all.

 

As for the match - I'm remaining optimistic as it's not over yet. Never a penalty and shocking defending which allowed the second goal but we didn't take advantage of chances we had when we were on top, so a draw would have been a fair result. As for next week, I'm still hoping we can make it, but I dont expect City to go down without one big fight.

Berbatov is a shocking pile of poo. I don't think Man Utd have the strength anymore to win the Premier League this season unless Berbatov bucks up his ideas. A long few weeks injury to Rooney could be very costly. Honestly cannot believe Fergie passed up on the offer to buy Tevez. That guy is mad.

Gary Neville faces censure for middle-finger gesture at Carlos Tevez

The Guardian, Wednesday 20 January 2010

 

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2010/1/19/1263945170178/Gary-Neville-finger-gestu-001.jpg

Gary Neville's reaction after the first Tevez goal

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/01/20/article-1244640-07EF7095000005DC-551_468x302.jpg

Gary Neville's reaction after the second Tevez goal

 

Gary Neville could be in trouble with the Football Association after he reacted to Carlos Tevez's first goal in the Carling Cup semi-final by raising his middle finger towards the Manchester City striker.

 

The FA wrote to Neville to warn him about his provocative celebration after Michael Owen had scored the winner when the two sides met in September, and the governing body have confirmed they will look at photographs of the latest incident to determine whether they need to take action.

 

Tevez went on to celebrate his second goal by running to the touchline and cupping his ears in front of the two dugouts, provoking the response from unused substitute Neville. But Sir Alex Ferguson chose not to question his former player's behaviour.

 

"That's just the way it happens," the United manager said of Tevez's match-winning contribution. "It can be like that. It can bite you, football. We've had a few players leave the club and score against us. It's not an issue. I'm happy with the players we have."

 

The victory has left Manchester City as "51% favourites" to reach the final, according to their manager, Roberto Mancini, but Ferguson was not too disconsolate as he reflected on his team's performance.

 

"I thought we played well. We ­dominated the match. There were a mad couple of minutes before the equalising goal and we lost composure for 15 minutes but, after that, we were OK. It will be a Man United crowd at Old Trafford and, with the occasion and what is at stake, we will be OK. The most important thing is that we perform like we did today."

 

Ferguson had described Tevez earlier this season as not being worth his £25.5m fee but the Argentina international is the most prolific player in English football on current form, with 13 goals in his last 11 games.

 

"I don't know if what was said made a difference for Carlos," Mancini said. "I just hope that he plays as well in the ­second game because it will be very difficult at Old Trafford. I am just happy that he plays for us."

 

Mancini acknowledged that United had "three or four good chances" to equalise and there was an element of good fortune attached to the penalty that was given against Rafael da Silva for ­pulling Craig Bellamy's arm. The first contact was outside the penalty area and Ferguson said: "It's there for everyone to see."

 

One of my pet hates in life are people who "give it out", but then "can't take it" in return. I think last night has shown that Gary Neville is one of those people. Irrespective of the colour of his shirt Gary Neville is an exceedingly rude word IMHO.

PS. I'll get it in first:

 

I fully expect Liverpool to lose tonight v Spurs.

I think you'll win tonight. Rafa seems to have a habit of coming up with a result when under most pressure...

Just bought my tickets for the home leg on Wednesday, tres excited! :D My first match at OT in almost a year :wub:

Signs seem promising from Liverpool... hope I don't speak too soon.

 

And Gary Neville is just an absolute twat. Hate the guy. He has his head so far up Fergie's arse it's unreal.

Villa - Blackburn is a cracking game.

 

Arsenal 2-0 down at home to Bolton! :o

Just bought my tickets for the home leg on Wednesday, tres excited! :D My first match at OT in almost a year :wub:

 

I hope you have a really good time.

 

Besides as a Liverpool supporter I'm reduced to the pathetic state of settling for you winning the League Cup (as I will always call it) if it could guarantee you don't win the Premiership this season. :cry:

 

Mind you I'm convinced the season SAF makes it 19-18 will be the season he quits.

Pleasing. Especially considering we're a two man team who can't even kick a ball without Gerrard and Torres. :rolleyes: Just hope we go on from here. Knowing the season we've had we probably won't, but we were up for the game today, something that can't be said of this time last week.

I can finally bare to look at the league table again, and flippin' heck. I hate the media so much with regards to LFC. 1 point off 4th place yet according to all the so called pundits we need to sack our manager, can't win a game without Gerrard or Torres, have no strength on depth, and lacklustre back-up. And Spurs are an extremely talented side, Man City have all the cash in the world, and Villa play really good counter attacking football. Yet we're still in touch with 4th place. Also last season in February we were 10 points off the top, at the moment we're 11 (not saying Liverpool are going to win the league this year(which they won't), but it's just to put everything into perspective).

 

On reflection I thought Liverpool were boss tonight. The midfield completely over-ruled Spurs'. I think the key is Riera personally. Liverpool look so much more balanced with him in the side. I think Insua (imo has been unfairly criticised a lot...) plays a lot better next to him as well. Aquilani looked class tonight as well. Can't believe so many people in the media were writing him off. He seems to be winning more 50/50s and looking a lot fitter and more mobile around the pitch. I don't think it's any suprise that him playing further up the field helped though. Very pleasing stuff. I just hope Wolves are not underestimated.

Firstly 6-4, what a crazy game, we're off to Wembley :D

 

Now my worries come in, after the FA Cup which we SHOULD get through against Brighton, we have a really hard run in the league (Arsenal, Fulham, Tottenham, Man Utd). If we can stay in touch with 4th through this spell then we have a great chance but I'm not sure we can as we haven't been playing that well since our loss to Liverpool. Hopefully this better run of results in the cups (presuming we beat Brighton as well) will give the team a bit more confidence again.