WAG of the Month: Sophie Reade

Sophie Reade
WAG of the Month - January


Sophie Reade got introduced to world of entertainment when she won Big Brother Season. Since then she made headlines every now and then. Including news, rumours, gossips and SOME photoshoots. Well the glamour girl couldn't resist the passion of football as she got introduced to Mario Balotelli who just arrived at Manchester following his transfer from Inter to Manchester City. Apparently she was good enough for Balotelli to drop his ex-girlfriend whom he started dating through Facebook hardly a month back. But finally he decided to go on with Reade.

Eveything seemed perfect for Reade until she found out that his boyfriend 'cheated' on her with her best friend and then suddenly dumped her before she can even ask if that rumour was true. Heartbroken, she took her frustration through her Twitter account.

But despite all that Miss Reade has decided to move on with life and perhaps move to the next step. Sophie claims that she was once approached by Cristiano Ronaldo when he used to play with Manchester United and asked her number, but her then boyfriend took her away before she can do so.

Since Sophie is now part of the WAG category, though former it maybe, she's once against approached by Cristiano Ronaldo's agent to meet him back in Madrid. Sophie since then, was and is, a huge Cristiano Ronaldo fan. Besides, what could be a better way to mend a broken heart when you have the world's best player with you? Balotelli? Who cares?

Gunning or Being Gunned Down?

By Haider Ali

Round of 16 of CL is around the corner and there is much talk about going who is going to win the Game of the Tournament so far. Yes a game between two former CL winners. Arsenal vs Barcelona, truly a clash of the titans. Both the teams have a history between them.

It all started in 1999 when these two teams met. In that year Barcelona defeated Arsenal in a two game leg. First drawing at home 1-1 and beating Arsenal in their away game.

In 2006 when they met in the final of the Champions league. It was the pinnacle of the rivalry between the two teams. Arsenal ending up on the losing side by two goals to one. Samuel Eto’ and Belletti scoring for Barca whereas Sol Campbell scored for Arsenal.

These teams met again 3 years later but this time in Quarter Final of the CL. Arsenal losing the away game 4-1 whereas made a fantastic comeback in the home game, coming from 2 goals behind and ending up the game in a draw.

They will again face off on 16 Feb 2011 and this time it is the knockout round of 16.

Barcelona and Arsenal both have been really strong at home but away they have faced difficulties. Arsenal have played total of 36 games this season whereas Barcelona have played 33 games this season.

At home Barcelona have been relentless in all the competitions. Out of the 33 games they have played they won 25 of them, 5 ending in a draw and they only lost 3. They have a win percentage of 75.8%. Whereas, Arsenal have played 36 games and won 22 of them and lost 8 and only 6 ending up in a draw. They have  a win percentage of 61.1 %.

But the interesting to note is that both the teams have won 4 games out of the 6 UEFA CL games. And both have been unbeaten in their home games. However, Barcelona have won one and draw two away from home where Arsenal have been gunned down twice away from home.

This fact makes the encounter very interesting. Both teams have class players, capable of winning you games. So what will be the result of this encounter?

In the league, for Barcelona it has been a one way show. They have a 100% record away from home. Although they have not been very strong at Camp Nou. They have 82% record at home only fourth best in the league. They have best away record in the league.

Whereas, gunners have played 23 games in the league and they happen to be the best team away from home having a win percentage of 58% , though best, but is far less from the win percentage of Barcelona.

Barcelona have only lost at home where Arsenal have lost most of their games at home. One might tip Barcelona to win the game but it is very much even.

Since Arsenal will be playing first leg home so they must be very cautious. In last two fixtures between these two teams at Gunners home have ended up in a draw. Both happened to be the first leg matches however it the second legs Blaugrana have been ruthless. They will not be giving Arsenal any chance. So Arsenal’s hope lies with doing good at home but Barcelona is a hard team to break down they have yet to suffer a defeat in CL this season.

Whereas, Gunners have lost twice out their three games they played away from home.

Stats clearly favor Barcelona to win this. But Arsenal will give them a tough competition. Arsenal might turn out to be a wall of steal or they might end up being a sand wall that’s what kind of team Arsenal is.

It will be hard to take down Barcelona.

But in the end it will be Arsenal GUNNED DOWN! But again, that's just an opinion...

Golden Goose Prediction:

Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona

Barcelona 3-0 Arsenal

Barcelona to win 3-1 on aggregate.

Golden Goose Spotlight: 24th January - 30th January 2011

Charlie Adams

Reason: Leading Blackpool 2-0 against Manchester United due to his extra ordinary kicks.


Description: Charlie Adams has been leading the Blackpool side since their promotion to Premier League. Blackpool started impressively and they have been continuing to do so. It was Charlie Adam's corner kicks that resulted in two goals against Manchester United. It nearly costed them the first loss of the season. Sir Alex Ferguson termed his corner kicks as worth 10 million pounds.

Golden Goose Spotlight: 17th - 23rd January 2011

Darren Bent

 

Reason: Immediate impact after his move to Aston Villa.

 

 

Description: Darren Bent has been probably one of the most under rated strikers in the Premier League. He's been doing wonders for Sunderland last season. And was among the top five scorers in the league. His impressive performances have somehow no caught the eye of big clubs. But Aston Villa considered him a saviour and decided to pay 18 million for the talented Englishman. He created immediated impact after his arrival scoring the only goal of the game against Manchester City, relieving his side from relegation worries.

Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City.

The Invincibles?

By Haider Ali

This is the term which was first used in 1880s for a team named Preston North End. They were the first team to win the Football league with an unbeaten run. That not it they also went on to win the FA Cup in the same season becoming the first team to win a double, without conceding a goal in the FA cup competition. The next time this termed was used in 2003-04 when Arsenal became the second team since 1889 to win the league season without losing a game. However, Preston NE had to play 22 games whereas Arsenal had to play 38 games to do the same.

Today again we are talking about using the same term again most likely for Manchester United as they have played 23 games in the 2010-11 season and yet to end up losing a game. But the question is whether they are capable to achieve the same?

In the past four decades two teams namely Liverpool and Leeds United came close to achieve the same what Preston NE had achieved but they only saw their dreams being shattered. They won 29 league games from the start of the league season in 1987-88 and 1973-74 season respectively but only to lose in the 30^th game of the season.

If we make a comparison between the teams that had a unbeaten run and those who came close to it than we will see that Preston NE was a dream team, only built for destroying opponents they played. They played 22 games, winning 18 and 4 ending up in a draw. They scored 74 goals, almost scoring 4 goals per game.  Preston NE was a strike force they only conceded 15 times in the season.

Arsenal in the 2003-04 season played 38 games, winning 26 of those games and 12 ending all tied. They scored 73 goals less than 2 goals a game but they went unbeaten because they held their nerves when it mattered.

Leeds United in 1973-74 went on a 29 match unbeaten run in the league but only to see lose the 30^th game ending up a 42 game season with 24 wins, 14 draws and 4 loses. They scored 66 goals less than 2 goals a game and conceded 31 times. It was the golden period in Leeds United history.

United winning the FIFA Club World Cup

1987-88 season Liverpool also came closer to winning the title of invincible but they too lost in the 30^th game of the season ending up a 40 league game season with only two loses. They found the back of the net 87 times, more than two goals a season.

Both Liverpool and Leeds United had a strong squad. One of their best in the history but they were short of achieving the greatness.

Now we have Manchester United, on the verge of setting new records this season. First winning the league title for the record 18^th time and also becoming the 3^rd team in the history of English top league football to go through a season unbeaten.

They have played 23 games and still are to play 15 games. Out of the 23 games they played they won 14 and drew 9. They found the back of the net 51 times i.e. scoring more than two goals a game. However, United’s away form has been questionable. They have been relentless at home. But only have managed to win thrice away from home.

If we compare United with Arsenal of 2003-04 than stats will say that United is doing much better than Arsenal did in n2003-04 season. They are scoring more goals on average. But Arsenal was also good in their away games.

Many say that Sir Alex didn’t have the best United squad he ever managed but still he has the better one who have gone 23 games unbeaten.

United needs nerves to hang on. The nerves that they showed in last game against Blackpool, the nerves they showed in their tremble winning season of 98-99. And we have to wait whether or not United be INVINCIBLE.

The Weekly Report - Issue 1 (2011)

THE WEEKLY REPORT

The Weekly Report provides you the complete coverage from the world of football. It’s published every week and covers all the games, scores and table updates that happened throughout the week. Giving you all the brief information required. This weekly reports covers all the games happening from (27/12/10 - 2/1/11).

English Premier League:

None of the clubs from the ‘big four’ have kept the perfect run this week. With Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all failing to win all of their games. However Manchester City & Tottenham Hotspur  have been able to keep up their perfect runs as they won both of their games played during this week. Chelsea lost the London derby to Arsenal for the first time since the arrival of Didier Drogba. While Manchester United conceded a late controversial goal from Bowyer at the dying moments of the game. Liverpool still failing to make an impact as they lost to relegation threatened Wolves. West Ham United and Fulham registered one crucial win each. While Aston Villa conceded 7 goals in the last two games. However, gave in a sensational performance at the Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Here are the score lines for this week:-

Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea

Manchester City 4-0 Aston Villa

Stoke City 0-2 Fulham

Sunderland 0-2 Blackpool

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newcastle United

West Brom 1-3 Blackburn Rovers

West Ham United 1-1 Everton

Brimingham City 1-1 Manchester United

Chelsea 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

Wigan Athletic 2-2 Arsenal

Liverpool 0-1 Wolves

West Brom 1-2 Manchester United

Liverpool 2-1 Bolton

Manchester City 1-0 Blackpool

Stoke City 2-0 Everton

Sunderland 3-0 Blackburn

Tottenham 1-0 Fulham

West Ham United 2-0 Wolves

Brimingham City 0-3 Arsenal

Chelsea 3-3 Aston Villa

Wigan 0-1 Newcastle United

Spanish La Liga:

The Madrid based clubs didn’t get to play any football this week. Barcelona won against Levante with a slight margin, while Valencia had the same type of victory against Espanyol. Athletic Bilbao failed to win at home against Deportivo. While Kanoute scored the only goal in Sevilla vs Osasuna. Hercules managed to get the share of spoils as they shared the points with Racing. And on the other hand Sporting Gijon lost to Malaga 1-2.

Racing Santander 0-0 Hercules

Barcelona 2-1 Levante

Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Deportivo

Sporting 1-2 Malaga

Sevilla 1-0 Osasuna

Valencia 2-1 Espanyol