World Cup and European leagues

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Wow, what a weekend in the EPL!  There were something like 126 goals scored at all levels in English football yesterday.  I turned on the live matches and found them boringly one-sided.  Turned off Arsenal-Newcastle at 4-0, got some lunch, went to take a nap and turned on the TV just in time to see Newcastle TIE at 4-4.  Amazing. 

What a game tying goal too.

Arsenal just lost composure, but Newcastle was a different team that half. 

[ScotsFan]

Wow, what a weekend in the EPL!  There were something like 126 goals scored at all levels in English football yesterday.  I turned on the live matches and found them boringly one-sided.  Turned off Arsenal-Newcastle at 4-0, got some lunch, went to take a nap and turned on the TV just in time to see Newcastle TIE at 4-4.  Amazing. 

What a game tying goal too.

Arsenal just lost composure, but Newcastle was a different team that half. 

That it was! 

I was watching the highlights on Super Sunday Plus on FSC and they made mention that Arsenal was fortunate not to lose that game because they said that the Magpies had a good look at a 5th goal after their equalizer!  Too bad that didn't happen.  As crushing as losing a 4-0 lead and have to settle for a point already was for the Gunners, imagine how crushing LOSING that match would have been? 

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I forget who it was but they scrapped one just by the post from about 20 yds a few moments after tying the game.

In the rally to tie, Newcastle also had a couple other pretty good chances.  It really was a rally out of nowhere.  For 60 minutes Newcastle looked beaten, the red card certainly changed things but Arsenal still should have won without much trouble.

[ScotsFan]

Wayne Rooney may just be back! 

His goal today vs. City was not only one of the great goals of this season, but arguably one of the greatest goals in the history of the Manchester Derby!

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Wayne Rooney may just be back! 

His goal today vs. City was not only one of the great goals of this season, but arguably one of the greatest goals in the history of the Manchester Derby!

Finally watched the game yesterday, Rooney's goal was spectacular.  One commentator called it the best goal he's seen in the EPL's relatively brief history.

[Stinger]

Fantastic result for Spurs today.  All without Bale.

[Hoosier Titan]

Fantastic result for Spurs today.  All without Bale.

What was with the headbutt?  On a 59-year-old coach?  I knew Gattuso was crazy but that is ridiculous.

I have the match on now and I'm waiting for the headbutt...feel like I should be watching WWF or something.

Anyway...happy for Peter Crouch.

EDIT:  Saw it.  Gattuso is crazier than I thought.  Spurs deserved the win; AC Milan looked a shadow of their former selves.  Somehow Crouchy always comes through in Europe.

[ScotsFan]

Anyone catch that Champs League match at The Emirates yesterday?  I missed it but caught highlights.  I would say by watching the highlights, that match certainly lived up to it's billing.  HUGE win for Arsenal btw. 

I still see Barca coming out of this tie on top, but Arsenal has to get a huge shot of confidence moving forward in the EPL race moving forward after knocking off the best club team in the world right now. 

It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can build off of this win or if they continue in their inconsistent play they've shown all year like blowing 4-0 leads on the road...

[Hoosier Titan]

Anyone catch that Champs League match at The Emirates yesterday?  I missed it but caught highlights.  I would say by watching the highlights, that match certainly lived up to it's billing.  HUGE win for Arsenal btw. 

I still see Barca coming out of this tie on top, but Arsenal has to get a huge shot of confidence moving forward in the EPL race moving forward after knocking off the best club team in the world right now. 

It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can build off of this win or if they continue in their inconsistent play they've shown all year like blowing 4-0 leads on the road...

We managed to record the second half.  I, too, would be surprised if Barca doesn't prevail, but it was a great match.  Arsenal really had them on the ropes.  That away goal may come back to haunt the Gunners, though.

Meanwhile, Liverpool-Sparta Prague reminded me just how dire European matches can be.  Sparta haven't lost a match in their domestic league this season, and Liverpool were without Suarez (cup-tied) and Gerrard, Agger, and Carroll (injury), so goals were always going to be scarce.  Hopefully Gerrard and Agger, at least, will be back for the Anfield visit next week.

[Joe Wally]

The Gunners couldn't manage to close the deal against Leyton Orient in the FA, letting in a leveling goal in the 89th minute.  They now face a return match against Leyton at The Emirates.

Several of Arsenal's first line players were on the bench today and a hand full of players that they did have on the pitch - Nicholas Bendtner - did not look entirely interested in the match.  None the less, they should have put this one away.  They can ill afford another match on an already over crowded fixture list.

[Hoosier Titan]

The goal by Leyton Orient's Tehoue was fabulous!  I know everyone's saying that Arsenal didn't give it their best shot, but outcomes like this are why the FA Cup is so fascinating. 

The FA match was another poor result for Chelsea, who went out to Everton on penalties.  Their Champions League tie with FC Copenhagen looms on Tuesday.  Wonder who Abramovich Ancelotti will put out as a strike force?  Must be a pain trying to manage with an owner breathing down his neck.

[ScotsFan]

The Gunners couldn't manage to close the deal against Leyton Orient in the FA, letting in a leveling goal in the 89th minute.  They now face a return match against Leyton at The Emirates.

Several of Arsenal's first line players were on the bench today and a hand full of players that they did have on the pitch - Nicholas Bendtner - did not look entirely interested in the match.  None the less, they should have put this one away.  They can ill afford another match on an already over crowded fixture list.

Does Nicholas Bendtner ever look interested in a match?    In my book, he's one of the most overrated players in all of soccer.  Dudes a complete headcase as he lets the fans get into his head too easily.  And when I'm talking fans, I'm talking Arsenal fans.

The goal by Leyton Orient's Tehoue was fabulous!  I know everyone's saying that Arsenal didn't give it their best shot, but outcomes like this are why the FA Cup is so fascinating. 

The FA match was another poor result for Chelsea, who went out to Everton on penalties.  Their Champions League tie with FC Copenhagen looms on Tuesday.  Wonder who Abramovich Ancelotti will put out as a strike force?  Must be a pain trying to manage with an owner breathing down his neck.

As for Arsenal not being able to get the job done with many of their regulars on the bench, they'd better figure out how or else they won't be playing for anything.  Arsenal shouldn't need to call on their starters to get a win over teams like Leyton Orient.  But, that is also part of the beauty of the FA Cup in that, the underdogs always seem to rise up in the big matches.

Agree on both points Hoosier.  I love when the Davids rise up and go toe to toe with the Goliaths.  Another good match was the ManU Crawley Town.  Although I was totally pulling for ManU, part of me was hoping Crawley could continue their unbelievable run as they were already the first non-league squad to reach the round of 16 in over 10 years and they gave ManU all they could handle at Old Trafford no less.  In fact, Crawley's supporters were far more vocal throughout the match than the home side fans.

As for Chelsea, I can't say I am sorry to see them eliminated.    Goes to show, just because you have deep pockets as an owner doesn't always translate into success.  Meddling owners with deep pockets almost always have difficulty.  Their mistake?  Not letting their managers do the jobs they were hired to do.

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We're going to Vegas baby!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/9403332.stm

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Quarter-final draw

Stoke v West Ham or Burnley
Man City or Aston Villa v Everton or Reading
Birmingham v Bolton
Manchester United v Leyton Orient or Arsenal

[Joe Wally]

Positively shocking result at Wembley.  The lack of communication between Szczesny and Kosicelny completely destroys the Gunners against a Birmingham squad that they should have never lost to.