EPL Mid Week Round Up for Weekend August 25 – 26 2012

So the second weekend of the new EPL – English Premier League is over and here is a brief rundown on all the results and action

EPL Saturday August 25, 2012

Swansea City 3-0 West Ham United
Not much to say in favor of WHU 2-0 down at the break, then Swansea made it three and the game was all over leaving Big Sam and the West Ham squad a long journey back to London – time to dwell on where it all went wrong. A stellar start for new Swansea team boss Michael Laudrup maximum points six from six!

Aston Villa 1-3 Everton
Everton are firing on all cylinders two games two wins, one scalp being the mighty Manchester United. Great start for the Toffees who do not usually start a new EPL season on fire. Aston Villa look tired already only two games into the campaign looking set for a long hard season where success looks to be avoiding relegation at best.

Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle United
Chelsea have maintained the same form that saw them crowned Champions of Europe when they hoisted the Champions League Cup 2012. Now they have new arrival Eden Hazzard who looks and plays like a super star. CFC have played three and clear at the top of the EPL with 9 points. To the rest the chase is on…

Norwich City  1-1 Queens Park Rangers
Norwich a side that have all the signs of being a mid table none event team were up against QPR managed by the hapless Mark Hughes. For the five people in  the UK who may be interested the score was a one all draw. QPR are odds on for relegation and that will surely duly happen minus Mark Hughes who will get fired around Xmas and the new year time 2013.

Southampton 0-2 Wigan Athletic
It is tough in the EPL when newly promoted and you come up against a lively team like Wigan Athletic who showed the Saints that they are in for a tough season especially if all teams play like the visitors in this match they were set up well, creative as the two goals showed and had dare we say the word a hint that they have wee bit of class in the side. On this form one can expect to see Wigan Athletic sitting pretty in the middle of the EPL table. As for Southampton it will be a long hard season and the Championship trapdoor will be open wide, on this form the Saints have it all to do

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
New Spurs boss clueless AVB – Andres Villas- Boas confirmed why he is hot bookies favorite for the first EPL manager to be sacked! Why Not? The bookies have it just right at odds of 1/2  as 1 point from 2 games means 19 points from 38 games which is automatic relegation!

EPL Sunday August 26, 2012

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
Well two teams who often deliver more BS than football but this game kept the fans happy as four goals were scored in the game. Two each so I suppose both sides will feel a point each is a point gained rather than 2 points lost. Liverpool on paper look like a very ordinary squad no change that a poor team. As for City I doubt whether they will be able to live with Chelsea and Manchester United this year and they will do well to finish the year third in the EPL

Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal
Britannia Ground home of Stoke City is a fortress backed up by maybe the most vocal supporters in the EPL. So visitors Arsenal never looked  like scoring and Stoke were not up for breaking out and leaving gaps that may have given the Gunners goal scoring opportunities. Stoke always line up the same way at home for all the visiting teams except the top four they will go for a win. But when the likes of Arsenal – Manchester United – Chelsea and any other team in the top four come to the Potteries. Stoke will park the bus and settle for a draw which they see as a point won.

Reading v Sunderland – Game Postponed

EPL Mid Week Round Up for Weekend August 25 – 26 2012..

The best signing of the 2012 EPL close season is the sensational news that Robin van Persie is set to leave Arsenal and join the mighty Manchester United

The Old Trafford terraces will go wild about Robin van Persie
ManU Persie Tra-la-la la-la he is Robin players and scoring goals Tra-la-la la-la
ManU Persie Tra-la-la la-la he is Robin players and scoring goals Tra-la-la la-la

This is a stellar hallmark signing by super shrewd coaching legend SAF – Sir Alex Ferguson he buys in ManU Persie for cash payment of £22 million pounds then hands RVP an £18 million pounds pay deal so the package rounds off at a tidy £40 million pounds. But here is the kicker the guy is cheap at this price because if injury free OT get 3 seasons out of the 29 year old that is only just over £7 million a year for a player that will have notched in at least 60 goals plus in that time. £7 million pounds a year a lot of money to some but pin money to Manchester United as for his wages that is the going rate for top EPL players. The real upside is that goals scored often converts into matches won in both the EPL and the Champions League

However moving on to the benefits of the deal for Arsenal and the wily guru Arsene Wenger, RVP wanted out and Wenger always needs money and this way Arsenal bag £22 million pounds for a player with only one year left on his playing contract – so for the first player to be sold by Arsenal to Manchester United since Viv Anderson in 1987 this is a good deal all round both for the Gunners and the Red Devils.

Anyone think this article is biased and that I am a Manchester United supporter – dead right I am!

Robin ManU Persie Signs On At Old Trafford…

Thierry Henry score winning goal on Fairytale return to Arsenal

We have all read or heard fairytale story where the hero embarks on a journey, encounter trials and tribulation, return home to save the day for his homeland and all is well. You will know that in reality, things hardly happen that way. In case of footballer, its even much less likely to happen especially when you are 34 years of age as Thierry Henry is when he made and appearance as a substitute on his return to the club where he is a living legend.

Henry, who is Arsenals all time goal scoring hero with 226 goals scored for the club in his eight years of playing for Arsenal before moving to Barcelona. Post Barcelona, he move on to the American club Red Bull (the same club another Premiership legend David Beckham play for). With 2 months on his hand because American soccer season is on holiday, Henry has been training with his old club Arsenal.

Arsenal manager who sign Henry for the club saw that Henry still has his old goal scoring prowess in him and sign him on load for just under two months. Arsen Wengers faith was re payed when Thierry Henry scored the decisive goal that break the deadlock in the lack luster FA cup 3rd round game between Arsenal and Leeds, sending Arsenal to the forth round of the draw.

FA Cup fourth round draw in full:

Brighton or Wrexham v Newcastle

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall v Southampton

Hull City v Crawley

MK Dons or QPR v Chelsea

West Brom v Norwich

Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Stevenage v Notts County

Watford v Tottenham

Liverpool v Manchester United

Derby v Stoke

Everton v Fulham

Macclesfield Town or Bolton v Swansea

Sheffield United v Birmingham or Wolves

Nottingham Forest or Leicester v Swindon

Two of the all time ‘Gunners’ greats are modern day sporting superstars Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry. Both can be categorized as great goal scorers both in the EPL – English Premier League and the CL – Champions League not forgetting of course a hatful of goals they have each scored for their national teams RVP – Holland and TH – France.
But it is at the old Highbury stadium and the new Emirates Stadium where Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry have excelled for Arsenal FC.

Robin van Persie has just equalled Thierry Henry’s Arsenal record for scoring 34 Premier League goals in a calendar year.

The Dutchman has scored 34 times in 2011 and has two matches left this year to try and beat all time EPL record of 36 by Alan Shearer in 1995.

RVP – Robin van Persie had this to say – quote – “It is a big honour to equal Thierry’s record because he is probably the best player Arsenal ever had. ” – more – “To achieve what he did in a year is really special. It makes me proud.”

RVP – Robin van Persie beats Thierry Henry Arsenal Goal Score Record…