BLACKBURN ROVERS vs ASTON VILLA - Rovers feel the four

Wednesday 28th November 2007

Aston Villa’s bid for a place in the magic top-four received increased credibility with a magnificent 4-0 win at Blackburn Rovers. Although we agree with the Ewood Park scoreline, we arrive by a slightly different route. Marlon Harewood netted the fourth goal but his first Villa goal should have been ruled out as he was in an offside position from John Carew’s second shot. However, Christopher Samba handled Big John’s initial effort so a penalty should have been awarded instead.

The Right Result is a 4-0 win for Aston Villa.

THE LESSER-SPOTTED LAMPARD AND FORTY SHADES OF GREY

One pertinent comment during the brief debate on Steve McClaren’s future was an accidental juxtaposition in the Independent – ‘GO’ above feature writer James Lawton’s picture.

‘GO’ was, of course, Lawton’s view, based largely on McClaren picking Beckham. “It didn’t happen to Bobby Moore” wrote Lawton of Beckham’s apparently stage-managed approach to 100 caps. “He didn’t finish on a number. He played to his limits and walked away.” Which, as an over-the-hill Moore played until surpassing Bobby Charlton’s cap-total, was garbage. McClaren made no worse mistake than that. And it’s hard to know who’s worse off, England’s team or its press.

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FULHAM vs BLACKBURN ROVERS - Fulham frustration

Sunday 25th November 2007

Fulham’s frustration in only going on to win once having taken the lead in eight Premier League matches so far this season will only increase with our view that Blackburn Rovers visit to Craven Cottage should have gained the maximum reward. Prior to Brett Emerton smashing home Rovers’ first goal, Jason Roberts was in an offside position when he flicked on Stephen Warnock’s cross.

The Right Result is a 2-1 win for Fulham.

DERBY COUNTY vs CHELSEA - Rams robbed

Saturday 24th November 2007

Saturday’s defeat against Chelsea proved to be the end of Billy Davies’ reign at Derby County but he could have been departing on the back of a morale-boosting result. Although on the balance of play Chelsea were worthy winners at Pride Park, as often seems to be the way, the key decisions went against the Premier League’s bottom club. With the Blues leading 1-0, Derby should have drawn level as Kenny Miller was in an onside position when the Scottish striker had a ‘goal’ disallowed for being offside. And that’s how it should have stayed as Ram Giles Barnes was tackled from behind by Andrei Shevchenko, so fouled, in the immediate build-up to Chelsea’s second goal.

The Right Result is a 1-1 draw.

HELD TO RANSON

You won’t delve far into contemporary football sagas before Ray Ranson turns up. Even when, as with Southampton and Coventry City lately, there are two on the go at once. It’s probably worth some newspapers’ while getting ‘Ray Ranson has emerged as a bidder’ templates made up.

When it comes to general football finance, though, Ranson has been emerging for years. He’s been a personal success financially. But it’s probably safe to say that this success hasn’t always transferred to clubs with which he’s been involved. Which may explain his recent failures to advance beyond ‘emerging bidder.’

He was even famous as a footballer for losing and as a right-back for missing a tackle – one of the Manchester City defenders left in Ricardo Villa’s wake for the Argentinean’s famous 1981 cup-winning goal. If he was famous, that is. Even Private Eye, normally red-hot on football despite its editor Ian Hislop’s convincing pleas of ignorance, called him Roy Ranson.

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ABSOLUTE SHOWER…CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY

Bad decisions feed this web-site. But, presumably, these aren’t deliberately bad. That cannot be said for FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s recent firings and hirings of FIFA’s General Secretary – world football’s second most powerful post. Not that football’s mainstream press are saying. There’s a World Cup being awarded and FIFA/Blatter criticism might harm England’s chances of being host. Well, I’m an Ireland fan, so bugger that.

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READING vs ARSENAL - Gunners’ grand night

Monday 12th November 2007

On the night when Arsenal netted their 1,000^th Premier League goal and returned to the top of the table, they should have had even more cause celebration. Another flowing performance was too much for Reading at the Madejski Stadium. The 3-1 victory should have been extended by a further goal as, shortly after bringing up their PL four-figures, Emmanuel Adebayor’s effort was erroneously ruled out for offside.

The Right Result is a 4-1 win for Arsenal.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs ASTON VILLA - Second for City in second city

Sunday 11th November 2007

An action-packed second city derby should also have featured a second goal for Birmingham City. Viewed from behind the goal, it is clear that Aston Villa defender Zat Knight handled inside the area and, furthermore, there was a deliberate upward movement of his arm to deny Blues forward Cameron Jerome any chance of retaining possession.

The Right Result is a 2-2 draw.

DERBY COUNTY vs WEST HAM UNITED - County consolation

Saturday 10 November 2007

Derby County’s hammering by West Ham United sent the Rams tumbling to their heaviest home defeat in eight years and already appears to confirm many pundits theory that they will be returning to the Championship in May. A small consolation for manager Billy Davies and his team is that we think United’s opening goal should not have been allowed as Lee Bowyer controlled the ball with his arm before firing the visitors into the lead.