Dmitry LONGICH
MATCH TOUR
Aston Villa - Manchester United. The central meeting of this tour will be part-time duel of the main losers of the previous weekend. Birmingham at home lost to “Bolton”, missing in the process a couple of hundred percent moments and one - two hundred percent. The Mancunians, despite their playing advantage, lost to West Ham inspired by the changes. The indicated failures became for the teams only the third and second defeats of the season, respectively, and both clubs crave rehabilitation. “United”, among other things, it is extremely important to maintain at least a minimum separation from “Chelsea” in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year's football cannonade. “Aston Ville” the same match should help to realize their current status, and Martin O'Neill - the scale of the upcoming personnel infusions. The meeting itself, in addition to the uncompromisingness included in the ticket price, also promises a first-class spectacle for the audience: the concentration of sparkling technique individuals per square meter of Villa Park field this evening will be close to the seasonal maximum.
UNEXPECTED INTrigue
Wigan - Chelsea. Last season, a match with such a sign happened in the first round, and he was destined to become a peculiar visiting card of Wigan for a long time. It was at that moment that the football world discovered the small but proud team of Paul Jewell, which soon became the main surprise of the tournament. The champion then, instead of the planned master class, got a real battle and wrested the victory, only taking the heavens as allies, who on that day kept the gates of Cech more than the queen and pushed Hernan Crespo to the decisive “blind” punch from the U-turn. Today, “Wigan” is not so small, but still the same proud club, which again is not averse to get the scalp of the favorite. For the hosts, the upcoming meeting is also a good time to remind yourself. And then the “Wigan” has already begun to slowly forget. However, Chelsea have someone to hunt for: Manchester is already a shot away.
DO NOT LOSE FROM THE VIEW
Tom Huddlestone only mastered in the main composition of “Tottenham Hotspur”, but has already managed to bring the “Spurs” the first away victory of the season. This happened no further than last Sunday. The young midfielder first made an assist, and then he himself, using a spectacular tennis strike, drove the ball from under the ball into the enemy's goal post. With his appearance, a support midfielder with outstanding physical data, a simple-minded look and easy playful naivete made Martin Yole forget about the trauma of Jermain Jenas and the very existence of Edgar Davids. Given the fact that “Tottenham” in recent years has been almost the main supplier of fresh personnel to the national team, a beaten path to the dream opens in front of Huddlestone. Just not to collapse ahead of time.
IMPORTANT WORDS
“I want to say that I respect Everton, David Moyes and his players very much - that’s why I like playing with them, especially at Goodisson Park, where the atmosphere is always great. After the match, I said that Andy Johnson is a great player, and never he didn’t say harsh words to him, unlike some other coaches who had blamed my players in previous seasons, I never used the words “rogue.” After watching the video, I must admit that the judge worked beyond praise. Did Johnson try to avoid the clash with our goalkeeper? Now I think, h then yes. I want to apologize to all Everton fans, as well as personally to Moyes and Johnson, " Jose Mourinho about the passions after the match with Everton in the usual counterattack manner, but in an unexpected role of the guilty.
BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS
1/2 season will be left behind right after the final whistle in the match, “Wigan” - “Chelsea”. Intelligence is over - the battle begins.
FULHAM - WEST HAM
December 23rd . Craven Cottage, 15.45.
Judge : Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Injuries : Boa Morte, Buba Diop, Pierce, Ballard, Elrich, Elliott, Pambridge, C. Jensen, C. John / Ashton, Tomkins, Gabbidon.
Disqualifications : no.
“Fulham” (version of “SPORT Today”): Niemi - Rosenor, Bocanegra, Knight, Kedru - Foltz, Kristanval, Brown, Radzinsky - Helgusson, McBride.
West Ham (SPORT Today version): Green - Spector, Ferdinand, Collins, Konnichki - Boyer, Reo-Cocker, Mullins, Etherington - Zamora, Harwood.
Last five matches : - + - - + / + - - - +
Last year's matches : 1: 2 (Craven Cottage); 1: 2 (Upton Park).
Quotes William Hill : Fulham victory - 2.25, draw - 3.2, victory of West Ham - 2.75.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 15.40 (direct).
ASTON VILLA - MANCHESTER UNITED
December 23rd. "Villa Park" 18.00.
Judge : Steve Bennett (Kent).
Injuries : S. Taylor, Laursen, L. Moore, Delaney / no.
Disqualifications : no.
Aston Villa (SPORT Today version): Kirali - Melberg, G. Cahill, Ridgwell, Barry - Agbonlahor, Mackenn, Petrov, S. Davis - Sutton, Barosh.
Manchester United (SPORT Today version): van der Sar - Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Heinze - Cristiano Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs - Rooney, Saa.
Last five matches : = - = = - / = + + + -
Last matches : 0: 1 (“Old Trafford”); 2-0 (Villa Park).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Aston Villa - 5.0, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Manchester United - 1.61.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 19.15 (recording).
MANCHESTER CITY - BOLTON
December 23rd. City of Manchester, 18.00.
Judge : Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Hamann, Sinclair, Mills, Sun Jihai, Logan / O'Brien.
Disqualifications : Corradi / C. Davis.
Manchester City (SPORT Today version): Isaksson - Richards, Disten, Dunn, Thatcher - Trabelsi, Barton, Dabo, Beasley - Wassell, Dick.
“Bolton” (version of “SPORT Today”): Jaaskelainen - Hunt, Meite, Ben Haim, Diane Faye - Campo, Speed, Nolan - Yannakopoulos, Diouf - Anelka.
Last five matches: - + = - - / + - - + +
Last matches : 0: 1 (City of Manchester); 0: 2 (Reebok Stadium).
Quotes William Hill : victory for Manchester City - 2.37, draw - 3.0, victory for Bolton - 2.7.
NEWcastle - TOTTENHAM
December 23rd. Saint James Park, 6 p.m.
Judge : Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Injuries : N'Zogbia, Bramble, Harper, C. Moore, Bernard, Krul, Ameobi, Owen, Carr / Lennon, Jenas, Keen.
Disqualifications : no.
Newcastle (SPORT today): Given - Huntington, Ramage, S. Taylor, Babayaro - Milner, Parker, Emre, Duff - Dyer - Martins.
“Tottenham Hotspur” (version of “SPORT Today”): Robinson - Shimbonda, Davenport, L. King, Lee Yoon Pio - Gali, Huddlestone, Zokora, Malbranck - Defoe, Berbatov.
Last five matches : + + + - + / + - + + +
Last matches : 0: 2 (White Hart Lane); 3: 1 (St. James Park).
Quotes William Hill : Newcastle victory - 2.4, draw - 3.1, victory of Tottenham Hotspur - 2.6.
READING - Everton
December 23rd. "Madeisky Stadium", 18.00.
Judge : Steve Tanner (Avon).
Injuries : Conwy, Cox, Mate, Kitson, A. Brown, Stack / Boyle, Hibbert, Pistone, T. Cahill, Turner.
Disqualifications : no.
"Reading" (version of "SPORT Today"): Hahnemann - Marty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey - Little, Sidwell, Harper, Sel Ki Hien - Hunt, Doyle.
“Everton” (version of “SPORT Today”): Howard - Neville, Stubbs, Jobo, Lescott - S. Davis, Carsley, Arteta, Osman - Anichebe, Johnson.
Last five matches : + + - = - / = - + - -
Last year's matches : not met.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Reading - 2.1, the draw - 3.2, the victory of Everton - 3.0.
ARSENAL - BLACKBURN
December 23rd . Emirates, 6 p.m.
Judge : Howard Webb (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Henry, Jungberg, Diabi, Gallas, Ebue / Roberts, Reed, Nelson, Enkelman, Emerton, Khizanishvili.
Disqualifications : none / McCarthy.
Arsenal (version of “SPORT Today”): Lehmann - Hoyt, Kolo Toure, Jura, Clichy - Gleb, Fabregas, Gilberto Silva, Rosicky - Van Persie, Adebayor.
Blackburn (SPORT Today): Friedel - Nill, Oyer, Todd, Gray - Emerton, Savage, Tugay, Pedersen - Bentley - Nonda.
Last five matches : - + = + = / = + - - +
Last year's matches : 3-0 (Highbury); 0: 1 (Ewood Park).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Arsenal - 1.3, the draw - 4.2, the victory of Blackburn - 8.5.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 17.55 (direct).
LIVERPOOL - WATFORD
December 23rd . Anfield Road, 6 p.m.
Judge : Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Injuries : Zenden, Sissoko, Kewell / Chambers, Foster, M. King, Carlisle.
Disqualifications : no.
Liverpool (SPORT today): Reina - Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Fabio Aurelio - Pennant, Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia - Bellamy, Crouch.
Watford (SPORT today): Lee - Miriappa, Demerit, Shittu, Stuart - Smith, Frances, Mahon, Boise - Young, Henderson.
Last five matches : + = + + + / - - = = -
Last year's matches : not met.
Quotes William Hill : Liverpool win 1.2, draw 5.0, Watford win 11.0.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, December 24, 05/10 (recording).
MIDDLESBRO - CHARLTON
December 23rd . Riverside, 18.00.
Judge : Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Injuries : Hoot, McMahon / Thomas, Lisby, Young, Reed.
Disqualifications : no.
Middlesbrough (SPORT today): Schwarzer - Parnaby, Woodgate, Pogatets, Arch - Morrison, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing - Viduka, Yakubu.
“Charlton” (version of “SPORT Today”): Carson - Kishishev, El-Karkuri, Heydarsson, Traore - Rommedal, Faye, B. Hughes, Ambrose - Hasselbeink, D. Bent.
Last five matches : = - - = - / = - + - -
Last matches : 0: 3 (Riverside); 1: 2 (Walley).
Quotes William Hill : Middlesbrough win 1.72, draw 3.25, Charlton victory 4.2.
PORTSMUT - SHEFFIELD UNITED
December 23rd . Fratton Park, 18.00.
Judge : Graham Pull (Hertfordshire).
Injuries : Lua-Lua, Stefanovich, Andy Cole, Mwaruwari / Lee Tai, Schipperly, Lagerwood, Bennet.
Disqualifications : no.
"Portsmouth" (version of "SPORT Today"): James - Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamaro - O'Neill, Pedro Mendes, Manuel Fernandes, M. Taylor - Kranjčar - Kanu.
Sheffield United (SPORT Today version): Kenny - Kozlak, Morgan, Bromby, Geary - Gillespie, Jagielka, Tonzh, Quinn - Webber, Hals.
Last five matches : - = = + = / - + + = +
Last year's matches : not met.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of “Portsmouth” - 1.61, the draw - 3.3, the victory of “Sheffield United” - 5.0.
Wigan - Chelsea
December 23rd . The JJ Stadium, 20.15.
Judge : Mike Dean (Wirral).
Injuries : Valencia, R. Taylor, Camara, Sharner / Terry, D. Cole, Cudicini, Czech.
Disqualifications : McCulloch / no.
“Wigan” (version of “SPORT Today”): Kirkland - Boyce, De Zeuw, Hall, Baines - Teal, Landzaat, Skoko, Kilbane - Kotteril, Heskey.
Chelsea (version of SPORTS Today): Hilario - Paulo Ferreira, Bularuz, Ricardo Carvalho, E. Cole - Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Ballack - Robben, Drogba.
Last five matches : - + = - - / = + = + +
Last year's matches : 0: 1 (“JB Stadium”); 0-1 (Stamford Bridge).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Wigan - 7.0, the draw - 3.75, the victory of Chelsea - 1.4.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 20.10 (direct).
NOTE : match start time is Moscow time.
TOURNAMENT TABLE
| Teams | AND | AT | N | P | Balls | Glasses |
one | MANCHESTER UNITED | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 38-10 | 44 |
2 | Chelsea | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 30-11 | 42 |
3 | LIVERPOOL | 18 | 9 | four | five | 26-15 | 31 |
four | BOLTON | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 20-15 | thirty |
five | ARSENAL | 18 | eight | 6 | four | 29-15 | thirty |
6 | PORTSMOUTH | 18 | eight | five | five | 25-16 | 29th |
7 | TOTTENHAM | 18 | eight | four | 6 | 22-22 | 28 |
eight | READING | 18 | eight | 2 | eight | 20-23 | 26 |
9 | ASTON VILLA | 18 | five | ten | 3 | 21-18 | 25 |
ten | Everton | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22-20 | 24 |
eleven | FULHAM | 18 | 6 | five | 7 | 18-28 | 23 |
12 | Wigan | 18 | 6 | four | eight | 20-23 | 22 |
13 | NEWCASTLE | 18 | 6 | four | eight | 17-20 | 22 |
14 | MANCHESTER CITY | 18 | five | five | eight | 15-22 | 20 |
15 | SHEFFIELD UNITED | 18 | five | five | eight | 14-22 | 20 |
sixteen | BLACKBURN | 17 | five | four | eight | 16-22 | nineteen |
17 | MIDLESBRO | 18 | four | five | 9 | 15-24 | 17 |
18 | WEST HAM | 18 | five | 2 | eleven | 11-24 | 17 |
nineteen | CHARLTON | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 13-31 | 12 |
20 | Watford | 17 | one | eight | eight | 11-22 | eleven |
SNIPERS : Drogba (Chelsea) - 10, Kanu (Portsmouth) - 9, Rooney (Man. United) - 8, Doyle (Reading) - 8, Saa (Man. United) - 8.
20th round. 12/26. Chelsea - Reading. Tottenham Hotspur - Aston Villa. West Ham - Portsmouth. Blackburn - Liverpool. Bolton - Newcastle. Everton - Middlesbrough. Manchester United - Wigan. Sheffield United - Manchester City. Watford - Arsenal.
12/27. Charlton - Fulham.