If the Suarez/Evra case went to court it would have been thrown out as a ‘Hearsay’ case so how the FA could decide a Guilty verdict is a laugh.
John Terry on the other hand had several people who heard what went on.
My only hope is that all the bandwagon jumpers who are appearing with regular monotony don’t sway any decisions in both cases. I suppode everyone has got their own views on both the Terry and Suarez incidents but I will be most interested to see how ‘justice’ will be seen to be done.
Back to last nights Prem results
Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal
Everton 1-0 Swansea
Fulham 0-5 Man Utd
Man City 3-0 Stoke
Newcastle 2-3 West Brom
QPR 2-3 Sunderland
Wigan 0-0 Liverpool
Yet again Liverpool falter against so called inferior teams and things weren’t helped by another goalkeeping master class as a Charlie Adam penalty was saved. Both Manchester clubs won at a canter and City will be top at Christmas for the first time since 1929.
Not had time to look in detail at the Boxing Day fixtures for our clubs but these are the relevant ones as published.
Games to be played on Monday, 26 December 2011
Liverpool v Blackburn, 15:00
Birmingham v West Ham, 17:30
Lincoln City v Grimsby, 13:00
Stenhousemuir v Cowdenbeath, 15:00
Good luck to all our teams in what must be the halfway point in the season for most.
The results of the Boxing day fixtures are as follows,
Liverpool 1-1 Blackburn
Birmingham 1-1 West Ham
Lincoln City 1-2 Grimsby
Stenhousemuir 0-2 Cowdenbeath
Have not had time to report in detail but if there is any interest I will start again in the new year.
With Luis Suarez serving a one match ban for flicking a finger at opposition supporters Liverpool decided to keep the ball away from the wood work as much as possible and ended up with a Friday evening 3-1 victory over Newcastle, let’s hope that the annoying habit of drawing at Anfield has been well and truly put to rest. Poor old Daniel Agger put through his own net but goals from Craig Bellamy(2) and substitute Steven Gerrard soon put matters right, the club skipper still looks a bit rusty but the way he took his goal was pure magic, now it’s to be hoped that the Reds can get a decent result against Manchester City next Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium, a big ask but you never know.
I have just been watching Manchester United entertaining Blackburn Rovers on what was manager Sir Alec Ferguson’s 70th birthday but no joy for him as Rovers came away with all 3 points, winning 3-2 to stop United going top of the table.
May I wish all contributors a very happy 2012.
Great result for Liverpool Bob. My Phil would have loved it. Lets hope they can make the Champions League for next season 
Sunderland beat Man City in the dying seconds of extra time woohoo
We are now at the half-distance as far as the season goes and it all looks fair for some interesting races to the finish in both the Prem and in other places.
This last few days have proved once again that there are yet a few surprises to be had and for a notable few the slippery pole has just been greased again.
The bottom of the prem makes a sight for sore eyes if you happen to be a supporter of a Northwest football club and in all honesty I cannot see a way out for at least two of the bottom three.
I would think that Blackburn and Wigan will take the long drop and perm any one from three from the bowels of the league.
I feel sorry for both Steve Kean and Roberto Martinez.
Kean, because he has had little to work with and yet he has so nearly made it work. Given the time and the resources he would sort it as the recent match against ManU showed.
Sadly the paying fans think someone else would save them, which I doubt.
As for Martinez, he is a genuinely nice, fair minded and talented manager and hopefully he will be snapped up by a quality side as he does not deserve to languish in the relegation zone. More than that, working for the extremely odious Mr Whelan must be a cross that is hard to bear.
Gary Ablett, the ex Liverpool defender has died at the age of 46.He had been fighting Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for the past 16 months.
Gary played for the Reds as well as Everton, Birmingham City, Blackpool and a brief sojourn with the American side the Long Island Rough Riders.
He also enjoyed loan spells with amongst others, Derby County, Sheffield United and Hull City.
His managerial career had started out at Stockport County but he had just joined the coaching staff at Ipswich when he first became ill.
A quiet unassuming man who was very good at what he did without making a song and dance about it. He should have made the England senior squad but sadly never did although he did make the B team. He was one of those players that could be pencilled in first on any team sheet, a dedicated team player and the epitome of professionalism.
Rest In Peace Gary, called to another squad far to early.
Yes, Gary Ablett was a well liked man on and off the pitch and will be sorely missed by lots of people, an unassuming guy with a great love for the sport he so richly graced. RIP.
I see my favourites once again flattered only to deceive, going down to Man City by 3-0 but to be fair to them, it’s not often that Pepe Reina makes such a blunder as he did to let in the first goal, a real soft one and for me the City penalty which resulted in the third goal was very harsh to say the least but having said that, it is blatantly obvious that the reds have not got a really good goal scorer on parade at present so this topsy turvy form of theirs seems set to continue!
Not a lot to Cheer you up either John, back to back losses to Grimsby, oh dear!
Hammer and Jim can afford a smile or two methinks, well done lads.
HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody
A smile indeed Bob!, I see my beloved long suffering underdogs poised on top of div. 2 and it has rewarded my patience and filled my heart with pride:-D. Bless all involved in this great achievement!.
Thank you Bob and Hammer, and a very happy and healthy new year to you and your families.
There must be something strange afoot, for the second time in a very short space of time I found myself smirking rather sheepishly at the results surrounding the fabled Man U.
I had resolved to be more charitable toward them but that seems to have ‘wayned’ (Waned) rather quickly.
Bob, I have been reading the 115 page FA report on the Luis Suarez affair (I know, how sad am I ?) and have only got passed about a third of it. I have to say so far it is very odd to say the least what they have been able to decide.
I had kinda hoped that it would be a clear decision that we could all learn from and move on but if anything I am more confused than ever.
Hopefully the muddy waters will clear soon as I read further but I have to say it is disturbing that he has been found so guilty on the flimsiest of proof.
Yes Hammer, the fact that it has taken 115 pages to finalise this report is in itself, unbelievable and I find it hard to try and remain neutral about the whole unsavoury incident, I genuinely get the feeling that the FA were looking for a chance to set a precedence and wield the big stick but Suarez has at least apologised, rightly or wrongly. It does seem as if the powers that be have gone way over the top but what will happen now that they have indeed set such a precedence?
I’ve just come out of my darkened room after that two kicks in the nuts from Grimsby. Went to the first game, which was dire, but thankfully missed the second, which was even more of a horror show. As Yazz used to sing in the past,“The only way is up” Time for some better news one thinks.
Cowdenbeath will play host to Hibernian FC in the fourth round of The Scottish Cup at Central park on Saturday with a 3.00pm Kick-off.
The Blue Brazil will be buoyed up after the 4-0 trouncing of East Fife last time out which saw them open up a six point gap in the table over Arbroath although they have a game in hand.
On paper at least, Hibs the premier league side should win this but there is a great belief in the home camp that they can overcome the cabbage men. It is worth knowing that Cowdenbeath and Hibs have met on three previous occasions in the Scottish Cup Both have one victory apiece with one draw.
Lincoln City are also at home Tomorrow (Saturday) the visitors to Sincil Bank will be York City for the 3.00pm Kick-off. The Imps will want to avenge the 2-0 away defeat inflicted by fifth placed York the last time these two met.
Manager Holdsworth has been a bit busy of late and new boy Richard Pacquette is expected to be handed his first run out for the Imps against his old team tomorrow.
Defender Carlton Watson has been bought in after being released from Forest, other signatures are, amongst others Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick and Rob Williams.
Let us hope with a few more changes that 2012 will be a new start for Johns team.
Liverpool are hosting Oldham tonight in the third round of the F.A Cup at Anfield.The Kick-off is 8.00pm.Possible line up ???
Doni, plus, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Aurelio, Henderson, Gerrard, Maxi, Shelvey, Bellamy and Carroll. Subs Reina, Kuyt and Adam plus any other.
Cannot really see the Reds being troubled too much by Oldham but beware it is not much of a trip along the M62 for the Latics to get jet lagged and they could pose a… no, on second thoughts no chance.
As for us, we are away to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday for our third round F.A cup encounter at Hillsborough. The Kick-off is 3.00pm. A tricky one this, we have played the Owls three times in this competition and they have won each match.They have also not lost at home this season and have dumped Blackpool out of the League Cup.
On a positive note, we should be able to field a better and fitter eleven than in recent times.Given our capacity for plucking defeat from the jaws of victory I wonder if this could be our swansong in this cup.
In any event good luck to all our teams.
Onward and play up.
Thanks Hammer for that very detailed update. No need to buy a Daily Mail now, or go on Teletext! Pity we could’nt get you on Football Focus, and get rid of them two miseries, Hanson & Lawrenson.
John, thank you for you words, nice to get comments, it is appreciated.
I like looking to see at what our clubs have been up to but then I like football a little anyway.
Sad I know but there it is and at least I don’t frighten the animals.
On the Football Focus front, I heard that Steve McClaren was taking over from Hansen for his linguistic attributes but now I read he has returned to the Netherlands and has become manager of FC Twente,…again.
Well at least that’s one banana skin stepped over nice and quickly and a 5-1 win against Oldham, even having to come from behind to triumph, whilst not being world wide news at least it got Andy Carroll on the score sheet for his first Anfield goal of the season even though he did miss the usual sitter into the bargain, there were first goals for Jonjo Shelvey and Stewart Downing whilst Steven Gerrard netted from the spot and Craig Bellamy added to his tally.
Moving on from the last posting and West Ham went out of the cup at Sheffield Wednesday 1-0, even managing to miss a penalty, not to worry, now they can concentrate on getting back into the Preimiership. Man Utd scraped through at their neighbours City who were reduced to 10 men after Kompany was shown Red and Chelsea cruised through by 4-0 against Portsmouth.
Not good news for Lincoln yet again John, surrendering at home 0-2 versus York City to set the alarm bells ringing again at Sincil Bank whilst Jim’s favourites went down fighting in the Scottish Cup 2-3 at home to SPL outfit Hibs.
The draw for the 4th round of the FA Cup has taken place resulting in a confrontation between Liverpool and Man Utd at Anfield. The full draw is…
Brighton or Wrexham v Newcastle Utd
Sunderland v Middlesborough
Dagenham v Southampton
Hull City v Crawley Town
MK Dons or QPR v Chelsea
West Brom v Norwich City
Blackpool v Sheffield Wed
Arsenal or Leeds v Aston Villa
Stevenage Boro v Notts County
Watford v Tottenham
Liverpool v Man Utd
Derby County v Stoke City
Everton v Fulham
Macclesfield or Bolton v Swansea
Sheffield Utd v Birmingham or Wolverhampton
Forest or Leicester v Swindon Town
Ties to be played over the week-end of 28th/29th January 2012
Yep a funny old day really, we saw the QPR door opened and the DCM shown to Neil Warnock. I understand that the assistant manager, Mick Jones, and first-team coach, Keith Curle, have also collected their kit. The perennial job sniffer Mark Hughes of Fulham and Manchester City fame to name but two clubs he has dallied with is said to be the early favourite to take over.
God bless all who sail in that ship then.
I watched the Manchester cup derby with a deal of interest, purely from a footballing point of view. Given the conditions the match was played in, it was always going to be difficult but sadly once again what could have been a feast of quality football was effectively over within the first quarter of an hour. The City captain and defender Vincent Kompany was shown an instant red card by referee Chris Foy for a tackle on Nani. Even worse, if that was possible, he could be looking at a four match ban.
We all know the rules and a two footed tackle with studs up is rightly outlawed and a straight red the punishment but let us pause for a second and look at this one and in real time.
The tackle is made and without doubt from what I saw, Kompany wins the ball cleanly albeit awkwardly with Nani taking the sensible option of getting out the way and of more importance, continues to play. Until significantly Rooney, that paragon of rectitude and fair play goes to Foy and tells him how to run the game and that Kompany has to go.
The rest is history but I despair of referees being unable to use commonsense or taking the time to think of what they are doing, especially in cases like this where it is hard to see how it really merited a yellow, much less a red.
As for our dismal lot, who were knocked out of the League Cup by League Two side Aldershot at the Boleyn Ground back in August, have now completed a pair of cup exits with today’s defeat by a League one side.
We did miss a penalty, hit the post a couple of times and squandered a number of clear cut chances to put the game beyond doubt but that is of little consequence.
Team selection was mind boggling to say the least. Rob Green, James Tomkins, Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole were all dropped, and Boffin, Gary O’Neil and Freddie Sears drafted in as replacements.
One odd thing stood out, in club captain Nolan’s absence, plonker Allardyce gave the armband for the day to George McCartney, an on-loan player thus creating a unique record of being the first loanee to captain the club.
Could it be that BFS is worrying about promotion too much? I would start looking over your shoulder mate if you can from your normal stance.
Thats some draw Bob, for the Reds. I would think the conspiracy fans will have a field day, reference the Saurez/Evra situation coming quicker than expected, ie. when the two teams meet. Wonder what hammer’s take on it was, after wading through them 155 pages?. Words fail me with Lincoln. Could’nt be fussed going, as its like being paying to be tortured.Hope that idiot who abused the oldham player gets what he deserves.