EPL Talk » bolton

Everton Undone by Soft, but Correct Penalty While Kevin Davies Rescues Bolton

Johnathan Starling — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:20:24 +0000

It was the last thing Everton needed to do against Manchester United, give up a penalty. But that was exactly what they did towards the end of the first half and Cristiano Ronaldo made sure they paid the price as his goal from the spot gave Manchester United a 1-0 victory.

When I first saw the penalty live, my first reaction was ‘you have to be kidding me…another United gift’. It just didn’t look like a legitimate decision. However I’ll be the first to admit the live angle wasn’t the best angle to be looking at and once I saw a better camera angle, it confirmed in my mind that it was a right decision.

Mikel Arteta has to know not to keep his foot out that close to the penalty area and he had to realize that once Michael Carrick was heading his way, the contact was going to be inevitable. While the contact looked accidental, according to the laws of the game, it’s still a penalty.

It’s decisions like this one that makes me wonder again if it’s time we get rid of using the words ’soft’, ‘harsh’ ‘and ‘tough penalty to give’ when we are discussing penalty decisions. It’s either a penalty or it isn’t, regardless of what our interpretation is in terms of severity. While from my eyes it the penalty looked soft, it was indeed a penalty and that’s all that matters.

Everton didn’t have much of a threat and only seven shots in ninety minutes isn’t going to cut it against a Manchester United side. To think if Tim Howard wasn’t on song today, this could have been a 3-0 victory earily. We know David Moyes is going in search of a forward or two on loan before the end of the transfer window, and they need it badly.

Another stand out moment was the Kevin Davies goal that gave Bolton all three points against Tottenham. It gives Bolton some temporary breathing room from the relegation zone. His header towards the end of the match was just in my mind and serves as a reminder to Harry Redknapp that regardless of who’s in the posts, it’s the people in front of him that matter just a little more.

The game should have been done and dusted when Davies made it 2-0 but defensive lapses did Bolton in inside of three minutes. But Kevin Davies was not to be denied. Off the corner kick late, Davies wasn’t afraid to get his head in the mix, and the mass of bodies between him and Cudicini did the rest to make sure it wasn’t saved.

A deserving win for Bolton, a loss that will make Harry Redknapp keep the phone companies happy over the next 2 days.

Other Thoughts From Today
* Credit to West Bromwich Albion who fought back twice after going down. However I wonder why Myhill wasn’t in goal. I am sure I probably missed something.

* Is Tony Adams fixing to be out of a job? If you’re to believe the Times, it’s highly possible. It didn’t help that Fulham just tore them apart today.

* Middlesborough and Blackburn has to qualify as one of the worst matches of the season.

* Manchester City…wow. Stoke City dared them after going 1-0 up at the end of the first half to get the equalizer and win and they simply couldn’t do it.

What were your thoughts on today’s action?

Arsenal Escape the Cold While Liverpool Left Out to Freeze

Johnathan Starling — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:43:01 +0000

On a day where the weather saw two Premier League ties called off, one London side will be glad their match was played while Liverpool will be wishing their tie at Stoke City was frozen off.

Whenever Arsenal and Bolton get together, you know two things are certain. The first being it will be a physical affair and the second being it will be a tight affair regardless of how well each side is doing in the league. How Kevin Davies played the first half without a yellow or even a red card is beyond my imagination. But Bolton’s style was to be expected. It almost was as expected the way Arsenal struggled to get the opener.

Until the 70th minute, I didn’t think Arsenal had a goal in them. But once the cross bar was hit, it just seemed like it was a matter of time. Clichy finding Van Persie on the run and Bendtner just getting in front of Jlloyd Samuel to keep them in distance of the top four. Doing so after a frustrating afternoon with six minutes to spare only helped those matters. After the lunchtime kickoff, it would have been another blow to have only received one point.

Special people help create those defining moment of a season, and for Arsenal Robin Van Persie has been that person for them this season. To finally put that final puzzle piece together for three points was something they needed to warm up on a bitterly cold afternoon in North London.

Liverpool on the other hand are probably wishing their tea time affair with Stoke City would have been frozen off. After nearly giving up a goal that should have never been allowed (the crossbar saved Liverpool…and the referee’s blushes twelve minutes in), Liverpool were almost left in the dust with sixteen minutes left after a Delap rocket found the head of Dave Kitson. That ball didn’t miss by much and really cemented the fact that while Stoke City didn’t have much of the ball, they were certainly more in control of the game.

Liverpool though seem to find a winner from nothing in these situations, and late in the match they had their chances. Steven Gerrard’s free kick six minutes from time probably the best chance. However the angle from which the free kick was taken, I can’t classify it as a quality chance at three points. Gerrard’s chance in the first minute of stoppage time I’d qualify as half a chance at best.

It’s embarrassing when a team that has 2/3rd of the possession only can get off 11 shots, 2 of those on target (per Soccernet). Stoke City from my eyes had the two best chances of the game and Liverpool were very lucky to get a point out of this match. Liverpool’s lack of quality chances cost them. For a side to have as much talent as they claim, they should be able to break down a side that was intent on attacking via the counter and the Delap special. It makes me also wonder if Benitez opened his mouth a little too soon?

Will Saturday Be The Most Boring Matchday In The Premier League?

The Gaffer — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:06:53 +0000

All the attention this week will be on Manchester United’s FIFA Club World Cup matches in Japan, and Sunday’s tantalizing Arsenal against Liverpool battle. But spare some thought for the matches on Saturday. On paper, it looks like it could be one of the most boring matchdays in the history of the Premier League.

Here are the matches that are scheduled on Saturday:

Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City,
Bolton vs Portsmouth,
Fulham vs Middlesbrough,
Hull City vs Sunderland, and
West Ham United vs Aston Villa.

From a football perspective, few of the matches stir much passion. Given their current form, West Ham against Aston Villa could be an entertaining match (Saturday, 12:30pm ET, Fox Soccer Channel). The other games televised on US TV: Bolton against Portsmouth (Saturday, 10am ET, Fox Soccer Channel) and Hull City vs Sunderland (Saturday, 7:45am ET, Setanta Sports).

Am I missing any storylines or am I being too pessimistic? Click the comments link below and let me know.

Premier League Odds and Sods 7 April 2008

tyduffy — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:38:18 +0000

Arsenal Reserves drew Liverpool Reserves 1-1 in a Saturday thriller. Rafa went with Jermaine Pennant and frisky Peter Crouch. Arsene started two English lads. Liverpool should have put the match away earlier. Crouch had a brilliant effort saved. Riise missed a sitter with his footballingly handicapped foot. Benayoun missed another. Even with United’s draw, the match killed Arsenal’s minute title hopes. See you at Anfield for round three.

Middlesbrough retained the title of big club bully by holding Man United 2-2 at the Riverside. Sir Alex sent out a stronger side than at midweek. They got outplayed. Alfonso Alves at last lived up to his transfer fee, scoring two. Had they a competent partner rather than Aliadiere they would have had at least two or three more goals. Ferdinand looked flummoxed without Vidic at his side.

Aston Villa blew out Bolton 4-0. England cuspers Gareth Barry and Gabby Agbonlahor served up three with a cherry from Marlon Harewood. Bolton’s defending was dreadful. Davies and Diouf did not communicate. The Wanderers look doomed.

Sunderland beat Fulham 3-1, in a relegation six-pointer. The win puts Sunderland on 36 points, 10 points clear. Fulham remain on twenty-four with fate fast approaching. Brian McBride can count to infinity twice, but it won’t keep Fulham up. All credit should go to Roy Keane for the wonders he’s done with the worst squad in the League besides Derby.

Premier League Odds and Sods 31 March 2008

tyduffy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:49:24 +0000

Arsenal beat Bolton 3-2 at the Reebok, keeping mathematical title hopes alive. The Gunners, with 10 men on the pitch, scored three goals to reverse a 2-0 deficit. Diaby deserved his red card for raised studs. Poor fortune averaged itself through an unmarked corner, a penalty and a deflection.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the best in the world right now. He scored one, set up three and could have had two more as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 4-0 to retain a five point clearance. Rooney should have had four goals, only managed a brace. Had Maloney made use of his attempts, it could have been closer, but Villa got played off the pitch.

Newcastle are charging toward the top half, with a 4-1 defeat of Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Both teams forsook caution with 4-3-3 formations, but it was Newcastle that capitalized on their chances. Obafemi Martins looked light and rejuvenated.

It was another muck of Merseyside Derby, as a fortunate Torres gift gave Liverpool the 1-0 victory over Everton. The Champions League six pointer pushed Liverpool ahead by five points.

No tan from standing

in the English rain, plenty

bald spots exposed though