Match Centre

By Darshan Joshi, writing in Sydney

It may be stretching the truth a little had I begun this by saying that there was only one team on the field, but it wouldn’t be a lie either. There was one moment during the match when it seemed as though Liverpool weren’t in grotesquely severe control of the match – Dimitar Berbatov lashed a half-volley, so curvaceous it may have made this month’s Playboy centrefold, beyond Pepe Reina, but, alas! All it did was shake the frame of the Spaniard’s goalmouth. And then there was a silence. Liverpool’s defensive third remained untouched for a long, long period, like a virgin resolutely set on prolonging its spell of abstinence. The picture is painted clearer than a van Gogh masterpiece when you notice the possession statistics: the Devils with 58% of the ball, yet, this very ball remained in United’s half for the majority of the match. And when United did get their goal, oh, if only there wasn’t a period of ninety minutes before then!

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By Ulysse Pasquier, writing from Montreal

There will be much more than just golden statuettes distributed on Sunday as Arsenal will look to end their 6 year trophy drought against Birmingham in the Carling Cup final. Arsenal’s lack of silverware since 2005 has been a talking point in the press - for what seems like forever for us Gooners - and yet it will be Alex McLeish who will have the task of ending the longest winless run with Birmingham lifting their only major trophy back in 1963. Puts things in perpective doesn’t it? However Arsene Wenger has evidently felt under pressure this season breaking off with his nonchalant attitude toward the League Cup and lining up stronger sides. The Gunners will be eager to silence the critics but will first have to get past a strong Birmingham side and do so without the injured Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas. 

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By Ainsley Jacobs, writing from England

Revenge would have been on the minds of the Liverpool players as they headed down on the coach to Molineux this morning. Just 26 days ago, Stephen Ward scored the only goal in the reverse fixture at Anfield and in doing so hammered another nail into Roy Hodgson’s coffin. That performance was one of the worst ever witnessed at Anfield but a month on and a with a new coaching team at the helm the fans may have seen Liverpool turn a long overdue corner.

Liverpool mostly dominated the first half treating the away supporters to some pass and move football so rarely seen this season. At the heart of this was the excellent Raul Meireles and it was his vision that created the first real chance of the game with a beautiful long range pass to Fernando Torres. Sadly the Spaniard’s attempt to curve the ball around Wayne Hennessey was well read by the keeper but Liverpool served warning to Wolves about their attacking intent. The first goal of the game followed not long after with again good work from Meireles slicing through Wolves pathetic attempt of an offside trap to then cooly pick out Torres for an easy side foot finish. Torres looks like a striker reborn under Dalglish who has galvanised his star number 9. With fire in his belly and steely determination, he was a constant thorn in Wolves side.

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By Dominic Vieira, writing from Lancaster

Invincibility is an astronomical challenge which very few managers achieve in a season or career, especially in the 21st century where the fixture list is condensed with dozens of highly competitive encounters. The most consistent team in recent times would be Arsenal who were unbeaten for 49 consecutive Premier League matches under Arsene Wenger. This season Alex Ferguson (Aged 68), Jose Mourinho (Aged 47) and Andre Villas-Boas (Aged 33) are the remaining undefeated managers in Europe. Manchester United hasn’t lost in 20 games, FC Porto’s unbeaten run has stretched to 19 matches and Real Madrid’s tally stands at 17.

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By Oliver Sparrow and Ulysse Pasquier, writing from London and Montreal

Join Oli and Ulysse as they foretell of a Wellington versus Napoleon-esque encounter between the two old foes of England and France at Wembley tomorrow evening (8pm GMT)

“Friends, football fans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Blanc.

I address you at a time of great peril for our nation, for our Gallic foes from across the Channel have signalled an attack on our fine fortress of Wembley, and their arrival is imminent. This is a call to arms, a plea to the great and strong of these lands to make your way to northwest London and help repel these foul assailants.

For those who fear not our French foes after their ill-fated and audacious attempt to plunder the galleon of Rimet on the shores of the South African Cape, take heed. At their helm now is a man whose subjects dare not defy. Rather, they admire and respect him. He is a leader of men, one who was once befit to grace Laird Ferguson’s red army of Manchester.

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By Matthew Coombs, writing from University of Bangor

For my first post to A Football Report I’m going to be looking into a pretty controversial topic.

The major news today (other than Grimsby Town’s first away win since August) comes from Fabio Capello’s decision to call up Jay Bothroyd and Chris Smalling to the England Senior squad.

I’ve decided to throw in my two cents on the subject, drawing up a list of 5 strikers who would find their way into my squad over Mr. Bothroyd. Don’t get me wrong, I rate him. But he wouldn’t be in my phone book if I were in Capello’s loafers, or even his custom made suit.

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by Amit Katwala, writing from England

England’s dull display on Tuesday against Montenegro dragged up the same old questions about the teams ability to break down sides that put up a defensive barrier. One of the sides key weapons in unlocking stubborn teams used to be Wayne Rooney, but he looks a shadow of his former self at the moment. It was thought that this was due to the recurrence of the ankle injury he picked up against Bayern Munich last April, but he revealed today that this was not the case.

While this is troubling news for Manchester United fans, they can at least take heart in the strength in depth at their disposal when it comes to unlocking defences. Dimitar Berbatov is finally starting to look like someone worth paying £30m for, and Javier Hernandez’s cool touch and finish against Valencia highlighted his ability to create goals from very little.

England fans have more cause for concern. It seems that the star of their team is fading. Whether its due to injury, or more likely, tabloid interference the fact is that Rooney is not playing well enough to justify a starting position. But who else is there?

A few promising youngsters are waiting in the wings, but there is not another established English player capable of doing what Rooney can when in form.

This would be less of a problem if not for the tactical inflexibility of the national side. Their lack of movement off the ball has led to sluggish performances, requiring bursts of brilliance from Rooney or Gerrard to break deadlocks. In the absence of someone to effectively play in between the lines they resort to what I call ‘Bolton Syndrome’ (I’m aware the team’s approach has changed since Owen Coyle took over, but the phrase has a nice ring to it I think).

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By Oliver Sparrow, writing from London

Tonight at Wembley a resurgent England face a Montenegro side who have perhaps unexpectedly won their first three qualifying games. The side from former Yugoslavia lie top of the table with 9 points after consecutive 1-0 victories over Wales, Bulgaria and Switzerland. Their most recent win has left manager of the Swiss team Ottmar Hitzfeld in a precarious position after calls for his resignation from the Swiss media and fans alike.

After splitting their international football partnership with neighbouring Serbia, Montenegro have made swift progress up the FIFA rankings, rising from 199^th to 40^th in three short years, and that position is likely to be even higher after victory over Switzerland. Their performance so far in their group is a far cry from that of their 2010 World Cup qualification campaign in which they finished 5^th in their group below lowly Cyprus.

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By Amy Quinn, writing from Dublin

Giant killings are a common story in all walks of footballing life. Few football clubs can say, with conviction, that they have never fallen foul of the ambition and drive that lower-ranked teams can often bring to the fore. Liverpool are no exception, with memorable FA cup exits to the likes of Barnsley and just last year, Reading, and with the spectacular banishment from the Carling Cup just two weeks ago at the hands of Northampton Town barely forgotten. It’s strange, however, that all of this pales in comparison to a desperate defeat in Liverpool’s own back yard yesterday afternoon against Ian Holloway’s Blackpool. The Seasiders now find themselves four points ahead of Liverpool in the Premiership (begging the question, are Liverpool now the underdogs?), and previously seen as relegation fodder, the shoe is now on the other foot for the struggling Reds.

It was particularly telling that late that Sunday, as Liverpool sunk to their lowest point in recent memory, the Kop erupted with chants of “Dalglish!” - referring, of course, to the former Liverpool player and manager, and current Academy director, Kenny Dalglish, who was present at Anfield yesterday with fellow legend Ian Rush, as he is every week. Surely not a pleasant experience for Liverpool’s manager, Roy Hodgson, who has come under fire from all corners of the team’s fanbase, but it represented something crucial. Liverpool fans have forged loving relationships with so many players and leaders down the years. Having adapted to so many different managerial styles, it is surprising that any approach would jar so horribly with the club as Roy’s has so far, but there’s an explanation for that.

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By Czeska Dumali

Both teams are coming off their first League losses with Chelsea losing to Manchester City while Arsenal lost to West Brom last week. No doubt they are eager to make a strong comeback and with this epic London rivalry every football fan knows this match will be one to watch. 

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By Darshan Joshi, typing furiously on a really uncomfortable sofa in a crowded common room in Sydney

Before you proceed, a word of caution is necessary… this is an experiment. As you re-live the duration of Sunderland vs. Manchester United without (animated) visual aid, remember that these are simply representative of the thoughts, feelings, and ‘whatevers’ else I deem necessary, crawling through my head at that exact moment of action (but printed on the Internet). Any offensive remarks are not those I would blurt out on an everyday basis, and are as such not a reflection on my personality/upbringing, nor would they arise in everyday speech because I would hope I’m not that impetuous.

Maybe this will spark the latest fashion in match reporting. Enjoy.

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