Weekend Review

Well, Footie Frog said it would be a weekend to keep an eye on...
He also said there could be surprises...
What he didn't know was how many.
Still, he's only hum... an amphibian.
All amphibians make mistakes.
Even clever ones.


SATURDAY


Stoke 3-2 Aston Villa
(FootieFrog ManofMatch - Fuller)

Stoke showed even this early in the season that they could prove to be something of a Jekyll and Hyde team this year...one team for away matches that loses 3-1 to Bolton, and one team for home matches that can do this to the likes of Villa! Footie Frog predicted that the Britannia Stadium could help Stoke slightly, but never thought that it was possible for the Potters to -

a) win
b) win
c) win playing decent football

The team tried their hardest to show the supporters the rollercoaster of emotions that they will be riding frequently for the next 9 months, twice throwing away the lead against a Villa side that looks suspect in defence.

Controversy surrounded the opening goal at the Britannia, Agbonlahor felled in the Stoke area, causing valid penalty claims, but these were waved away by the referee. The resulting breakaway by Stoke led to their own penalty claims as Laursen brought down Delap in the area. Yes, that is the same Laursen that conceded a penalty against Man City in the opening game. (In case you were wondering...) Lawrence tucked the penalty away comfortably. John Carew then brought Villa back into the match with a nice finish, keeping the teams locked until the 80th minute, when Fuller regained the lead for Stoke, nonchalantly flicking the ball past Laursen and drilling a low shot across Friedel. After Laursen then equalised with a tap-in three minutes later, it looked as though the Villains had been just that, cruelly denying Stoke their 3 well-deserved points. But in the dying seconds of the game, Delap launched a trademark long-throw into the Villa box and Sidebe, despite not seeming to know much about it, headed home, sending the fans into raptures, and equalling the number of wins Derby County managed in the whole of last season.


Tottenham 1-2 Sunderland
(FFMoM - Malbranque)

After the disappointment of a failed prediction at Stoke, Footie Frog was delighted that he couldn't have been more right when it came to the goings on at White Hart Lane. Sunderland did play like they did against Liverpool, creating lots of chances. The lack of harmony and shakey defence continued with Spurs. Cisse did prove to be the difference. A 'sneaky away win' was entirely correct... not that this Frog likes blowing his own trumpet. Not at all.

Kieron Richardson scored the opening goal of the game on 55 minutes after an end-to-end first half in which Sunderland's Malbranque had hit the post and looked a constant threat against his old club. A 50-50 challenge between Richardson and Jenas just outside the Spurs area after a poor clearance, and the ball spilled loose. Richardson, on his unfavoured right foot, lashed the bouncing ball past Gomes for the lead in a tight match.
Bentley then decided to start playing, and created a good opportunity for Woodgate who missed the Black Cats' goal from 6 yards, before Bentley himself had a fine strike tipped over by Gordon. On 73 mins, Modric burst into the Sunderland box. His shot was saved well by Gordon, but Jenas pounced to level. The last 20 mins of the game were finely balanced and it could have gone either way, but eventually swung away from Ramos's side. As the match was coming to a close, new signing Djibril Cisse came on from the bench and leapt highest to nod in Darryl Murphy's cross for the winner.
NB.1. Cisse scored on his Liverpool debut with a similar goal, also against Spurs.
NB.2. Berbatov was left out of the Spurs team due to a 'lack of focus'.


Fulham 1-0 Arsenal
(FFMoM - Zamora)

Another failed prediction. Fulham played like Arsenal, Arsenal played like Fulham, and the Footie Frog was left eating humble pie.

A miserable game really, if you were anything but a Fulham fan. 3 shots on target all match, and Arsenal putting a host of chances wide. Footie Frog told people to watch out for Van Persie this weekend, but he looked rusty, wasting many of the 11 opportunities Arsenal sent off-target. Brede Hangeland, Fulham captain, got the only goal of the match after 23 mins. A lovely curling ball in from the ever-lively Jimmy Bullard, who (for some unknown reason) desperately wants a new contract at Craven Cottage, and Hangeland stuck his toes out further than Gallas, to prod the ball past Clichy stood on the post. New signing Zamora looked good, constantly rattling the Arsenal back four, and requiring full attention from the Gunners. The Arsenal midfield never turned up...maybe stuck on the tube... Things not looking positive for Wenger's creche after two relatively untaxing matches.


Newcastle 1-0 Bolton
(FFMoM - Given)

Footie Frog needed this one. He can't take too many hits to his predicting reputation. He said that Newcastle, the better attacking team, should win this game but said that they would make hard work of it... A match that could have been so different for the faithful Geordie followers. Maybe a sign that their 'bad luck' is changing - both matches that they have had so far have been so close to defeats, but the 'Toon' remain undefeated. Well in Footie Frog's opinion it isn't luck. It's all down to one man. Shay Given.

After a terrific opening match against Man Utd, Shay single - or rather, double - handedly changed this match for the Magpies. On 59 mins, Steven Taylor hand-balled in the area, and Steve Bennett pointed to the spot. Up stepped Kevin Nolan to put the Trotters in front, but Given had other plans, diving to his left for a fine save, before sweeping the loose ball out of play, away from the onrushing Bolton players. There were very few chances in this match - very little of anything actually, except injuries. Bolton's Elmander went off after 15 mins, Duff failed to re-appear after half-time, and Oba Martins left the field early into the second half. Good job for Newcastle that Owen timed his comeback to perfection. Always a predator, Owen came on and after having a few warning chances, tucked away a nice header from a Geremi cross for the victory. Gutierrez and Nolan tried their best to make the game better than awful, with decent performances.


Blackburn 1-1 Hull
(FFMoM - Roberts)

Oh dear. Footie Frog apologises. He thought Hull weren't anything but the odd goal from 'Top-Gun' Geovanni...Well, he still thinks this to be honest, until further proof, but Hull went some way towards making him re-think his opinion after a confident performance and impressive draw away at Blackburn Rovers.

It was a bit of a case of all brawn, no brains at Ewood Park on Saturday. Both sides needed some attacking craft, some vision to turn this game into a victory. Neither had it. They huffed and puffed, but failed to create many real chances. Both goals were scored in the first half, within a couple of minutes of each other and both nicely taken. Blackburn had a couple of efforts by Reid and Pedersen, and Marney failed to find Fagan in a good position for Hull, before the deadlock was broken by Rovers' Jason Roberts. On 38 mins, he ran on to Reid's long ball, and tidily put it past Myhill with the outside of his boot. Hull replied almost instantly with a classy goal of their own. Fagan played in a deep cross from the right, and Richard Garcia timed his run to perfection, before planting a header back across the goal, over Paul Robinson into the top corner. Defenders (Gardner in particular) were on top in the 2nd half, snuffing out half-chances, but Roberts continued to make the most of this run in the team and had a decent 2nd period beofre being replaced by the unhappy Benni McCarthy. Can Hull kick on..?


West Brom 1-2 Everton
(FFMoM - Arteta)

Wrong again, Footie Frog sighs. He thinks he underestimated Everton. They might be weak this year, but not that weak...
The thing with Everton is, they have solid spine, even if they have no-one else. Lescott, Arteta, and Yakubu are all quality, and they proved it against West Brom. The Baggies, who despite most critics suggesting otherwise, have performed the worst of all the promoted sides so far this year, but will hopefully take confidence from their good performances, and the fact that they are only losing by single goal margins. They won't however, take confidence from such shocking performances as the one from their new signing Meite...

Disappointing this, for West Brom, who played some lovely football. Neither side had much to shout about in a tight first-half, but Chris Brunt nearly gave the Baggies' fans reason to cheer with a powerful, dipping 30 yard drive. After the break, West Brom continued to push for the opener, Miller coming closest, trying a cheeky lob over Tim Howard, but the American 'keeper saved well. Young Toffees' teen Jack Rodwell had a goal disallowed for climbing on a Baggies defender moments before the opening goal. Unfortunately for West Brom, it was Everton's Osman that made the breakthrough, with a nice strike on 65 mins, firing home after a magnificent through ball by Arteta.
The game was made safe on 76mins, after terrible error by the sluggish Meite, who got caught in two minds, and failed to clear a long ball, allowing Yakubu to nip in and nod the ball past the out-rushing Carson. There was still time for late drama however, as Bednar slotted home a penalty for a Phil Neville handball in the 89th min, but Everton held on for their first points of the campaign.


Liverpool 2-1 Middlesbrough
(FFMoM - Mido)

Footie Frog predicted a Liverpool win here, but said that this match would be 'a big test for Benitez side's title credentials' and it really was. A decent game for the neutral, too...
Almost immediately, Dirk Kuyt unleashed a powerful strike, which required a fine save from one of 'Boro's young inexperienced 'keepers, Ross Turnbull, who followed that with tipping behind Dossena's 'shot' that nearly dropped into the goal. He wasn't the only keeper kept busy however, with a superb save from Jose Reina in the Liverpool net to prevent Taylor's shot flying in. Downing too, had a shot wide. But Torres was a constant threat - a header just wide, and great defending from Pogatetz and Wheater to block his efforts.
After half-time, Mido came on for the disappointing Alves, and look really sharp, 'Boro nearly scoring a wonderful goal. Mido held the ball up well on the left before playing a fine ball into Tuncay who flicked the ball up majestically, spun around his marker and fired a volley into Reina's arms. A warning of things to come. And Middlesbrough did take the lead on 70 mins. Super-sub Mido fired a long range shot into the bottom corner.
Suddenly Liverpool were in trouble, and it needed the two born and bred scousers to save the game. Firstly came Carragher's equaliser, as he hit a shot as hard as he could from the edge-right of the penalty area, which flew off Pogatetz and into the net. But it took until the 94th min for the Scousers to get the second goal, and who else but Gerrard, smashing in a falling ball on the volley from the edge of the area to Anfield's relief.


SUNDAY

Wigan 0-1 Chelsea
(FFMoM - Palacios)

Footie Frog guessed the right winner of this one, but Wigan (and Bramble!) proved to be more resilient than yours truly predicted...

If there were any doubts that Deco's wonderful performance against Pompey last week was anything but a mere one-off, the Brazilian/Portuguese maestro put paid to them in the first 5 mins of this match, a sublime free-kick curling in the top left corner from 25 yards. Latics fans must have worried... But they needn't have - their team responded in excellent fashion, with Footie Frog favourite (and predicted star) Wilson Palacios forcing Cech into a good save, and the increasingly impressive Amr Zaki doing the same. Terry then headed over from a Lampard corner, before Zaki made Cech pull off another good save. It was an end-to-end match, great for the neutral. The second half wasn't quite the spectacle of the first, Chelsea managed to take a bit more control, as Wigan lacked a cutting edge. A decent long range effort from Essien had Pollitt worried, and Cattermole, Palacios and, dare i say it, Bramble all had good games to keep the Blues at bay. The Latics just didn't have a Deco. And that is why Chelsea will win the league. They have lots of them.


Man City 3-0 West Ham
(FFMoM - Elano)

When the Footie Frog said that the outcome of this match depended on which City/West Ham side actually showed up, this match showed exactly what he meant. The quick, cutting, clinical West Ham of last week, and the hapless, hopeless, hoofers of Man City from last week...well, they swapped.
City announced their intentions on 25mins, Petrov curling a free-kick against the upright, and he, Michael Johnson, and Elano passing the ball around nicely. West Ham's frustrations were shown perfectly in the first red card of this Premier League season, given to Mark Noble on 38 mins after a ridiculous handball (just grabbing it after he slipped to the floor) and a mistimed, hard, slide-tackle. The depleted Hammers team had an uphill struggle, but held on until 65mins, when Matt Upson's dodgy clearance was taken advantage of by Daniel Sturridge, firing past Green. A decent bottom-corner finish by last week's seemingly-absent Elano put City in cruise control, and he doubled his tally 5 mins later, knocking in a Steven Ireland centre. Only a magnificent save from Green prevented a 4-0 rout. A 3-0 hammering was all...