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Back to winning ways
A single goal from Luis Gonzalez was enough to get a 1-0 win over Torquay and end our three game losing streak. We were much the better side as off 59% possession we made far more chances (19-11). Playing man of the match Lahm at DM worked well and this will continue against Spurs at home this week. Heinze should be leaving as a makeweight for another, younger, left back.
Back to top A truly disastrous week
Two defeats this week mean that any title hopes are over and any domestic cup glory this season will not be happening. Only the CL is left for us. At stoke it was a keenly fought game with the Potters edging it in chances (14-11) but the killer was that we only had two on target to Stoke's nine. Worse was to come in the F.A.Cup at Charlton. The Addicks shaded possession (51%) but we made more chances (15-11) but Canizares had another bad match as we lost 4-2. Owen and Pirlo scored for us as all the goals came in the first half and Seedof hit the woodwork too. Now we have to go to Torquay as we try to finish in the top four. Iniesta in midfield is not working so Lahm will replace him there with Heinze recalled to left back.
Back to top Keeper error proves costly against Leeds
A poor two-fisted punch from Canizares led to the only goal of the game as Robinho headed in for a 1-0 win to Leeds. The visitors edged possession (51%) and chances (11-8) but we had more on target (6-4) with Pirlo hitting the post too. With Leicester winning that kisses goodbye to any title hopes. Now we have to go to UEFA spot chasing Stoke before we go to Charlton in the F.A.Cup quarter-finals. Lahm and Jorgensen both extended their contracts by a year so there are no major players out of contract at the end of this season.
Back to top Good wins in league and cup, most contracts renewed
Michael Owen was to the fore again this week scoring twice in our 3-1 league win at Newcastle before striking a thirty yard stunner in the last minute of the cup replay against Blackburn as we won 1-0. The game at St.James' was very even as we shaded possession (51%) and both sides had 12 chances apiece. However our clinical finishing included a penalty and a goal from Philipp Lahm. In the F.A.Cup game, we controlled the match from start to finish and the scoreline did not reflect this at all. Still, we are through to the last eight and that's all that counts. This week we just have the home league game against an improving Leeds side who have Shevchenko, Robinho and Mancini to give our defence something to do. We need the win as we are just seven points behind the leaders, Leicester City who have dropped points lately. Lots of players signed new contracts this week leaving only Jorgensen and Lahm as the major outstanding ones to sign.
Back to top Owen and Neville get the goals, two Spaniards sign
Michael Owen and Gary Neville scored in both games this week as we beat West Ham 2-0 and drew at Leicester 2-2 in the CL. We edged the Hammers on both possession (51%) and chances (17-16) but Owen and Neville struck in the second half. Against the Foxes wefound it much harder as they dominated possession (58%) and made more chances (15-12). We battled back from 2-0 down to get the draw. Two Spaniards were signed, Arteta and Mata. Arteta is the back-up to Gonzalez which may mean the exit door for Rodriguez. Mata is a young Spanish striker seen as a great prospect. This week we travel to Newcastle in the league brfore the F.A.Cup replay against Blackburn. Canizares and Gilberto are both out injured so Wiese and Iniesta come into the side.
Back to top Pirlo strike secures win at Portsmouth
We won 1-0 at Portsmouth in a game where we deserved the win as we dominated possession (62%) and the chances (22-9). We scraped the victory through Pirlo following a goood combination of play from McCarthy and Lahm. Now we are at home to West Ham in the league and then we go to Leicester City for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. A midfielder may be bought this week as Rodriguez will go on the loan list. Morten Gamst Pedersen was bought from Leyton Orient for 7.2M GBP. He is a long-term replacement for Jorgensen.
Back to top Easy wins in league and Europe; Brown sold
Two games, two 3-0 wins as our recent good run continued. Against Rushden and Atletico Madrid we had the lions' share of the possession and chances. We are still third and just as far off the top as Leicester won once again. Wes Brown was sold to Chelsea for 5M GBP. This is a 10M loss on what we paid but there are better contenders to be Gary Neville's long-term replacement. We will be trying to buy another attacker this week. Now we face Portsmouth at Fratton Park in a game where we dropped points last term. There will be no changes to the side.
Back to top Good win in league, draw in cup
In both games against Blackburn we were much the better side on possession and chances. At least we won the league game 2-0 thanks to Pirlo and Lahm. However we could only draw 1-1 in the F.A.Cup 5th round tie with Jorgensen, playing in place of the suspended McCarthy, scoring. This week we are at home to Rushden in the league and then we complete the Champions League group stages at home to Atletico Madrid. McCarthy will return to the side. Wes Brown will probably be sold this week following a 5M GBP offer.
Back to top Draw blank in Mersey derby
We battered Everton but we couldn't score in a very dull Mersey derby. We had most of the ball (55%) and we made far more chances (9-2) but Shay Given made three saves. Lahm, Albiol and Pirlo were all excellent. It is a disappointing result as Leicester are now ahead of us by eleven points. Title hopes are over barring a Devon Loch collapse. Anotonio Puerta's sad passing has created a gap in the squad which is going to be hard to fill. Kahlenberg will be recalled from his loan soon and becomes Seedorf's back-up. Quagliarella has gone on loan. This week we travel to Blackburn in the league and also in the F.A.Cup. They beat us at the start of the season so we will be looking to do better than that. McCarthy is available for the league game but is suspended for the cup tie.
Back to top Owen scores to beat Kiddie, McCarthy signed
The week went rather well for us as first we won a difficult game at Kidderminster 1-0 and we signed a striker to plug the gaps left after the spate of injuries. Michael Owen scored following a set piece as we won 1-0. The Harriers were the better side as they had most of the ball (52%) and the chances (17-10). Jose Canizares was outstanding making eight saves. We remain in third, miles behind the leaders who won again. We have also signed Benni McCarthy as a back-up striker from West Ham for Sissoko and 3.6M GBP. He will go straight into the side against Everton as Keane aggravated his hamstring injury against Kidderminster. Andrea Pirlo returns from his injury but Canizares is out so Tim Wiese will deputise in goal. Fabio Quagliarella will probably go on loan this week to Roma.
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