tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46835821620825559072024-02-19T08:06:12.030+00:00Football From Either Side Of The PondGoal or Touchdown, It's Football To MeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-52797291241971680762013-05-01T21:20:00.000+01:002013-05-01T21:20:25.327+01:00Premier League Predictions - 4th-8th May 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An
extended version of this week’s Porter’s Predictions due to some Premier League
teams having midweek fixtures this week too. This week’s weekend and midweek
fixtures include Norwich vs Aston Villa, Liverpool vs Everton, Manchester
United vs Chelsea, Sunderland vs Stoke and Chelsea vs Tottenham.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fulham 3-1 Reading<br />
Norwich 1-2 Aston Villa<br />
Swansea 2-2 Man City<br />
Tottenham 3-0 Southampton<br />
West Brom 2-0 Wigan<br />
West Ham 2-1 Newcastle<br />
QPR 0-2 Arsenal<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liverpool 1-1 Everton<br />
Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunderland 1-1 Stoke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man City 3-1 West Brom<br />
Wigan 2-1 Swansea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-65417106919257728182013-04-25T16:51:00.000+01:002013-04-29T23:11:10.683+01:00Premier League Predictions - 27th-29th April 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rlaEb9_Qy2HmF8P2GhZr2RVhvKEVOMdjyRCaArppmT13XYVke1Rq-ddLeqQJ6It-APxwADxSp7ntkAj2S5pT8Vzt1FuNREauakaSeo1PUxtphlmzN5mEq4AMePCKhRzbma4QAuwe_JV/s1600/premier-league+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rlaEb9_Qy2HmF8P2GhZr2RVhvKEVOMdjyRCaArppmT13XYVke1Rq-ddLeqQJ6It-APxwADxSp7ntkAj2S5pT8Vzt1FuNREauakaSeo1PUxtphlmzN5mEq4AMePCKhRzbma4QAuwe_JV/s400/premier-league+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we
are with another round of Premier League fixtures meaning another round of
predictions. Manchester United confirmed their 20<sup>th</sup> title on Monday
night with a win against Aston Villa, but there are still key games left to
decide European spots and in the battle for survival.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This weekend, there is Stoke vs Norwich, Reading vs QPR,
Arsenal vs Manchester United and Aston Villa vs Sunderland. Here are my
predictions for this weekend (with explanations too!).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Man City 3-0 West Ham<br />
Everton 2-1 Fulham<br />
Southampton 1-1 West Brom<br />
Stoke 1-1 Norwich<br />
Wigan 1-3 Tottenham<br />
Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Sunday</b><br />
</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Reading
2-3 QPR<br />
Chelsea 2-0 Swansea<br />
Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Monday</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Aston
Villa 2-1 Sunderland<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Saturday</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
<b><br />
Man City 3-0 West Ham</b> – City’s home form has been impressive all season
long and I don’t think this Saturday against West Ham will draw up any
exceptions. West Ham has been on good form, unbeaten in their last five games,
but I think this run will end against the former champions.<br />
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<b>Everton 2-1 Fulham – </b>A disappointing
loss against Sunderland last week will be the fuel Everton will use to produce
a win this weekend. Prior to last week, Everton hadn’t lost since February and
I think they will recapture this form. Fulham need Berbatov to get on the score
sheet if they are to have any chance of winning. They haven’t scored a goal
themselves since they played QPR at the start of the month (own goal vs Aston
Villa). Everton should win though as they are unbeaten at home in 2013. <b><br />
<br />
Southampton 1-1 West Brom – </b>In recent games, Southampton have been good at
home but only been able to produce wins against the bigger sides. A point this
weekend will take them past the magic 40-point mark which will most likely
grant them Premier League football next season. There isn’t a lot West Brom can
still go for this season as they no longer can achieve a European spot, but
they shouldn’t sit back as Southampton will be tough opposition.<b><br />
<br />
Stoke 1-1 Norwich – </b>Both sides won last weekend so they’ll hope to repeat
this form this weekend. With the threat of the drop still in sight, this game
should be a good one. Both sides lack a frequent goal scorer though so it
should be close. If Stoke still had the home form they had in 2012 this year,
this result would be going Stoke’s way, but with only one win at home in all of
2013, a draw is a more likely result.<b><br />
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Wigan 1-3 Tottenham – </b>Wigan are usually impressive at this time of year
against the bigger teams. With Tottenham though still looking to earn Champions
League qualification, I think their push for survival will be halted this
weekend. Tottenham will be high in confidence after picking up a win against
Manchester City last weekend so I think another win is on the cards for them
this weekend.<b><br />
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Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool – </b>The loss of Luis Suarez for Liverpool is a big
one, as he has helped his side get out of a lot of trouble. This is therefore a
great opportunity for Newcastle to pick up all three points this weekend.
Having won five of their last eight league games, Newcastle could reach the
magic 40-point mark this weekend with a win, increasing their chances of
survival. They’ll be hoping Cisse will be able to find the net for them this
weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sunday<br />
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<b>Reading 2-3 QPR – </b>This fixture will
be one of the best games to watch this weekend, in a ‘Go hard or face the drop’
match up. If either one of these sides loses this weekend they’ll be the first
side to be relegated from the Premier League this season. A draw wouldn't be
enough to keep both sides up for another day (till the result of the Aston
Villa game), but I think QPR will be able to find a win, meaning Reading will
be the first side to be relegated.<b><br />
<br />
Chelsea 2-0 Swansea – </b>Chelsea have been undefeated in the last six games at
home in the Premier League and Swansea have failed to pick up an away win the
Premier League in 2013. Chelsea still need to secure their Champions League
spot too so a win this weekend will take them one step closer. Swansea has
failed to win in their last five games but they have drawn their last two games,
so progress is being made. However, I don’t think they will be able to beat
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.<b><br />
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Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd – </b>Manchester United secured another Premier League
title with a 3-0 win against Aston Villa last Monday.<b> </b>Unlucky for Arsenal fans then as they will have to give Robin van
Persie and the rest of the Manchester United squad the guard of honour when
they walk out onto the Emirates pitch this weekend. Manchester United has
stated that they are aiming to break the Premier League points record so don’t doubt
that they will hold anything back this weekend. Like Tottenham and Chelsea
though, Arsenal are still looking to secure a Champions League spot for next
season, so I think a draw will be a most likely result.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Monday<br />
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
<b>Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland – </b>Both sides
are still fighting for survival, so finding a win is vital. Aston Villa could
send QPR and Reading down this weekend with a win and with Benteke finding the
score sheet quite often in the last few games, this is looking likely.
Sunderland will hope to continue their good start under new manager, Paulo Di
Canio with another win but I think the likes of Weimann, Benteke and Agbonlahor
will be too much for them to handle.</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-63427370059627862422013-04-18T12:36:00.000+01:002013-04-18T12:36:15.177+01:00Premier League Predictions - 20th, 21st & 22nd April 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rlaEb9_Qy2HmF8P2GhZr2RVhvKEVOMdjyRCaArppmT13XYVke1Rq-ddLeqQJ6It-APxwADxSp7ntkAj2S5pT8Vzt1FuNREauakaSeo1PUxtphlmzN5mEq4AMePCKhRzbma4QAuwe_JV/s1600/premier-league+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rlaEb9_Qy2HmF8P2GhZr2RVhvKEVOMdjyRCaArppmT13XYVke1Rq-ddLeqQJ6It-APxwADxSp7ntkAj2S5pT8Vzt1FuNREauakaSeo1PUxtphlmzN5mEq4AMePCKhRzbma4QAuwe_JV/s400/premier-league+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another
weekend is approaching so another weekend of Premier League action is on the
horizon. Some of this weekend’s fixtures include Norwich vs Reading, QPR vs
Stoke and Swansea vs Southampton on Saturday, and Tottenham vs Man City and Liverpool
vs Chelsea on Sunday. Here are my predictions for this weekend’s action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Saturday<br />
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Fulham
1-2 Arsenal<br />
Norwich 1-1 Reading<br />
QPR 1-0 Stoke<br />
Sunderland 1-2 Everton<br />
Swansea 3-2 Southampton<br />
West Brom 2-1 Newcastle<br />
West Ham 1-1 Wigan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sunday<br />
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tottenham
2-2 Man City<br />
Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday<br />
</span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man
Utd 3-0 Aston Villa</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-44450509866546949472013-04-10T16:24:00.000+01:002013-04-12T20:33:12.010+01:00Premier League & FA Cup Predictions - 13th-17th April 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtzWcAZIW3TLYaTygR0x2gVANm2WT2Yg16Tftxr1tuUlE7Vl6OawllEk-nJkt5tHplzLj6v-Q5TS2DuTED-f-T4o3aT3B_1nAKH9-0yUIj7uPCWG-Zd_j6cCnb43e9Y7GTeKdyB3EjLiC/s1600/fa-cup-premier-league.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtzWcAZIW3TLYaTygR0x2gVANm2WT2Yg16Tftxr1tuUlE7Vl6OawllEk-nJkt5tHplzLj6v-Q5TS2DuTED-f-T4o3aT3B_1nAKH9-0yUIj7uPCWG-Zd_j6cCnb43e9Y7GTeKdyB3EjLiC/s400/fa-cup-premier-league.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another
weekend of Premier League and FA Cup fixtures just around the corner means another
round of ‘Porter’s Predictions’ for you guys to enjoy. This round will also
include the midweek fixtures too. Aren’t you lucky people!! Anyways, this load
of Premier League fixtures include Aston Villa vs Fulham, Newcastle vs Sunderland,
Arsenal vs Everton and Fulham vs Chelsea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The FA Cup is at the semi-final stage which means games are
now being played at Wembley. This weekend, Wembley will play host to Millwall
vs Wigan and Chelsea vs Manchester City. Here are my predictions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Premier
League <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arsenal 3-0 Norwich<br />
Aston Villa 1-1 Fulham<br />
Everton 2-1 QPR<br />
Reading 1-3 Liverpool<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Southampton 2-1 West Ham</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Newcastle 3-1 Sunderland<br />
Stoke 1-2 Man Utd<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday
<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arsenal 2-1 Everton<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man City 3-0 Wigan<br />
West Ham 2-3 Man Utd<br />
Fulham 2-2 Chelsea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FA Cup<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Millwall 1-2 Wigan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea 1-2 Man City</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y8FI38DB6ew4u7n5-iF1WnKPdGeH46Iy8Q2M-ft4pMNV1eJMpYuakBaf0gv4ozM0UihlKHyA0Mm69MV4UbOuUqf-VQBKJNKEJNe08WKpjp7AgVzOb2USHTN2wWC8_5QTzVsHCz_BtAoD/s1600/321045_10151433420332176_1965321637_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y8FI38DB6ew4u7n5-iF1WnKPdGeH46Iy8Q2M-ft4pMNV1eJMpYuakBaf0gv4ozM0UihlKHyA0Mm69MV4UbOuUqf-VQBKJNKEJNe08WKpjp7AgVzOb2USHTN2wWC8_5QTzVsHCz_BtAoD/s1600/321045_10151433420332176_1965321637_n-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-30897924539322676902013-04-04T12:42:00.000+01:002013-04-04T12:42:05.312+01:00Premier League Predictions - 6th, 7th & 8th April 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rlaEb9_Qy2HmF8P2GhZr2RVhvKEVOMdjyRCaArppmT13XYVke1Rq-ddLeqQJ6It-APxwADxSp7ntkAj2S5pT8Vzt1FuNREauakaSeo1PUxtphlmzN5mEq4AMePCKhRzbma4QAuwe_JV/s1600/premier-league+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rlaEb9_Qy2HmF8P2GhZr2RVhvKEVOMdjyRCaArppmT13XYVke1Rq-ddLeqQJ6It-APxwADxSp7ntkAj2S5pT8Vzt1FuNREauakaSeo1PUxtphlmzN5mEq4AMePCKhRzbma4QAuwe_JV/s400/premier-league+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I do
every week, here are my predictions for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures.
The likes of Aston Villa, Southampton and QPR put up good fights against their
opponents last weekend. Hopefully those teams mentioned and the rest of the
Premier League teams will do this again to provide us with some exciting
football games to watch. Some of the key games to watch this weekend include
Reading vs Southampton, West Brom vs Arsenal, Tottenham vs Everton, QPR vs
Wigan and Manchester United vs Manchester City. Here are my predictions.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Saturday</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
Reading 0-2 Southampton<br />
Norwich1-2 Swansea<br />
Stoke 2-2 Aston Villa<br />
West Brom 2-3 Arsenal<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sunday</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
Liverpool 3-0 West Ham<br />
Tottenham 2-1 Everton<br />
Chelsea 4-0 Sunderland<br />
Newcastle 2-2 Fulham<br />
QPR 1-2 Wigan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday</span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Man Utd 3-1 Man City</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-80988530070021705772013-04-01T15:03:00.000+01:002013-04-01T15:03:26.118+01:00Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United - FA Cup quarter-final replay<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbCjIVVe0sj1SxXZv0fdBw01QxDXAbT0Nvn5ljaxuJPP6_kDo-COb2_sCJJXc3PFxjKAZ8z3aW0J9YMRs9_QQ_XNRFZ152ODE0Xvb3ckyKXWHXB9QPhYQbWy0PFHW2yCCV-a4-gWusaNo/s1600/Stefan+Wermu+-+Reuters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbCjIVVe0sj1SxXZv0fdBw01QxDXAbT0Nvn5ljaxuJPP6_kDo-COb2_sCJJXc3PFxjKAZ8z3aW0J9YMRs9_QQ_XNRFZ152ODE0Xvb3ckyKXWHXB9QPhYQbWy0PFHW2yCCV-a4-gWusaNo/s400/Stefan+Wermu+-+Reuters.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stefan Wermu - Reuters </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea’s
Demba Ba produced the only goal in the FA Cup quarter-final replay win against
Manchester United, setting them up with a semi-final tie at Wembley against
Manchester City.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The game lacked life during the first 20 minutes of the
game, as both sides were unable to find any rhythm in their game and were producing
sloppy passing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This may have been down to the fact a lot of players may
have been tired from playing internationals during the last week and league
fixtures during the weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After Ashley Cole was subbed off the field and replaced by
Ryan Bertrand due to a hamstring problem, the game started to earn a bit of
life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Javier Hernandez tried to take a shot inside Chelsea’s
penalty area, but he took one turn too many and lost the ball to Ramires, who
cleared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea had a chance of their own not long later when Eden
Hazard went on a good run, wrong footing Chris Smalling along the way, and then
rolling the ball to Demba Ba.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ba then had a shot from the right side of the penalty area
but this shot was saved by David De Gea which caused the ball to go out for a throw
in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moments later, Chelsea was given a free kick thanks to a
Nani handball. David Luiz took the free kick, which went over the cross bar
convincingly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After this, Nani tried to redeem himself with a long shot in
Chelsea’s half, but the ball went wide of Petr Cech’s right hand post.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hazard then formed a nice one-two partnership with Oscar
inside Manchester United’s penalty area, but his shot went harmlessly over De
Gea’s crossbar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hernandez was the next Manchester United player to have a
shot from range on Cech’s goal. His shot was on target, and was only saved by
the feet of Cech as the ball swerved in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just before half time, John Obi Mikel had a shot on the edge
of the area for Chelsea but the ball hit Smalling and went for a corner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nothing came from this corner for Chelsea, so the half time
score was 0-0.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manchester United started off with the first chance of the
second half as Luiz fouled Phil Jones on the edge of the area, giving them a
free kick. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nani took the free kick but his shot hit the wall and his
following cross was plucked out of the air by Cech.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two minutes later, Chelsea broke the deadlock.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ba outstretched his leg to make contact with a Juan Mata
ball and he put enough power on the ball to guide it past De Gea to the left
side of the net, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manchester United replied not too long after this with an
opportunity to get on the score sheet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A cross by Danny Welbeck gave Hernandez a close range header
and a chance to score, but his header pulled out a fantastic save by Cech.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mata responded for Chelsea after picking up a nice through
ball by Hazard in the left side of Manchester United’s area, but his shot hit
the side netting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michael Carrick then had a chance for Manchester United, but
he should have passed the ball instead of taking the shot as he had better
options around him. His shot from the edge of the area went wide.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carrick made another error moments later as his lose pass
was picked up by Hazard. Hazard then dribbled the ball to the penalty area but
his shot went wide of the right hand post.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After this chance, Chelsea looked more likely to score as
Oscar’s shot five minutes before the 90 minute mark went wide of the left hand
post. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Robin Van Persie had the best chance in the last few minutes
for Manchester United as he was able to volley a Patrice Evra cross, but his
volley went over the bar. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was an unusual site from Van Persie, who has been
scoring goals for fun this season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No more real opportunities occurred for either side, which
meant the score finished <b>Chelsea 1-0
Manchester United</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This win for Chelsea sets them up with a trip to Wembley to
play Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on the 14<sup>th</sup> April.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Line-ups</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">01 Cech<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">02 Ivanovic<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">03 Cole (Bertrand - 21’ (Booked))<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">04 David Luiz<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">28 Azpilicueta (Booked)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">07 Ramires<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10 Mata (Booked)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11 Oscar (Booked) (Moses 90’)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12 Mikel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">17 Hazard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">29 Ba (Torres 90’)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Substitutes<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">22 Turnbull<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">26 Terry<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">34 Bertrand<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">08 Lampard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13 Moses<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">30 Benayoun<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">09 Torres <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manchester
United<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">01 De Gea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">03 Evra<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">04 Jones<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">05 Ferdinand<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12 Smalling<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">07 Valencia<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">16 Carrick<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">17 Nani (Giggs 65’)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23 Cleverley (Booked) (Van Persie 61’)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">14 Hernandez<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">19 Welbeck (Young 80’)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Substitutes<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13 Lindegaard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">36 Vermijl<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11 Giggs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">18 Young<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">25 Powell<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">26 Kagawa<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">20 Van Persie<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man of
the Match: </span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Demba Ba<br />
<b><br />
Ref: </b>Dowd</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/ConorJPorter" target="_blank">@ConorJPorter</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other blogs - </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.letstalksport.org.uk/">http://www.letstalksport.org.uk/</a> & </span><a href="http://nflmad.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://nflmad.wordpress.com/</span></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-88728211154432078562013-03-28T12:30:00.000+00:002013-03-28T12:30:43.958+00:00Premier League Predictions - 30th, 31st March & 1st April 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s1600/barclays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s400/barclays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Did you miss me? I missed you guys and gals!The Premier League is back after the international break
with some exciting fixtures kicking off the run-in to the end of the season.
Some of the fixtures this weekend include Sunderland vs Manchester United,
Swansea vs Tottenham Hotspur, Everton vs Stoke, Aston Villa vs Liverpool and
Fulham vs QPR. Here are my predictions for this weekend’s fixtures.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Saturday</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
Sunderland 0-2 Man Utd<br />
Arsenal 2-0 Reading<br />
Man City 3-1 Newcastle<br />
Southampton 1-2 Chelsea<br />
Swansea 1-2 Tottenham<br />
West Ham 0-1 West Brom<br />
Wigan 2-1 Norwich<br />
Everton 2-0 Stoke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sunday</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool<br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday</span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Fulham 3-0 QPR</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/ConorJPorter" target="_blank">@ConorJPorter</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other work posted on: <a href="http://nflmad.wordpress.com/">nflmad.wordpress.com</a> & </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.letstalksport.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.letstalksport.org.uk/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Email: <a href="mailto:conorporter@live.co.uk" target="_blank">conorporter@live.co.uk</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-13533506656858265162013-03-14T18:33:00.000+00:002013-03-14T18:33:06.220+00:00Premier League Predictions - 16th & 17th March 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s1600/barclays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s400/barclays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All
Premier League teams are back in action this weekend. Some of the ties include
a Saturday early kick-off between Everton vs Manchester City, Aston Villa vs
QPR, West Brom vs Stoke and Manchester United vs Reading in the Saturday Evening
game. On Sunday, there is Sunderland vs Norwich and Tottenham vs Fulham. Here
are my predictions for this weekend’s action (Kick-offs at 3pm unless stated).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everton 2-2 Man City (K.O. 12:45pm)<br />
Aston Villa 1-1 QPR<br />
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool<br />
Stoke 1-1 West Brom<br />
Swansea 2-2 Arsenal<br />
Man Utd 4-1 Reading (K.O. 5:30pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunderland 1-0 Norwich (K.O. 1:30pm)<br />
Tottenham 2-1 Fulham <br />
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham (K.O. 4pm)<br />
Wigan 1-1 Newcastle (K.O. 4pm)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/ConorJPorter" target="_blank">@ConorJPorter</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Email - <a href="mailto:conorporter@live.co.uk">conorporter@live.co.uk</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other blogs and sites I contribute to: <a href="http://nflmad.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://nflmad.wordpress.com/</a> & <a href="http://www.letstalksport.org.uk/">http://www.letstalksport.org.uk/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLirnJaMrNbkPAvFwzF7b_rkaIpJDwsdmXP-8M75DJSFVgk1Blf52E8Pz6QkvQKFB-pWAdbigLMhDz_jLUAk7Q2pUqtB6k-rRIst5MtAVNmlveWE6zHYwxowygI-Cf0ubxmhyphenhyphenuws1aJnJ/s1600/321045_10151433420332176_1965321637_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLirnJaMrNbkPAvFwzF7b_rkaIpJDwsdmXP-8M75DJSFVgk1Blf52E8Pz6QkvQKFB-pWAdbigLMhDz_jLUAk7Q2pUqtB6k-rRIst5MtAVNmlveWE6zHYwxowygI-Cf0ubxmhyphenhyphenuws1aJnJ/s1600/321045_10151433420332176_1965321637_n-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-35550506256097815842013-03-06T23:51:00.000+00:002013-03-06T23:51:29.739+00:00Premier League & FA Cup Predictions - 9th &10th March 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtzWcAZIW3TLYaTygR0x2gVANm2WT2Yg16Tftxr1tuUlE7Vl6OawllEk-nJkt5tHplzLj6v-Q5TS2DuTED-f-T4o3aT3B_1nAKH9-0yUIj7uPCWG-Zd_j6cCnb43e9Y7GTeKdyB3EjLiC/s1600/fa-cup-premier-league.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtzWcAZIW3TLYaTygR0x2gVANm2WT2Yg16Tftxr1tuUlE7Vl6OawllEk-nJkt5tHplzLj6v-Q5TS2DuTED-f-T4o3aT3B_1nAKH9-0yUIj7uPCWG-Zd_j6cCnb43e9Y7GTeKdyB3EjLiC/s400/fa-cup-premier-league.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
weekend’s football action is a mixture of Premier League and FA Cup with some
exciting ties lined up that could provide some upsets.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Premier League fixtures include West Brom vs Swansea and Reading
facing off against fellow strugglers Aston Villa on Saturday and Liverpool vs
Tottenham on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the FA Cup, Everton play against Wigan and Man City host
Barnsley on Saturday. Also, Millwall play against Blackburn and Man Utd host
fellow Premier League side Chelsea on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are my predictions for this weekend’s fixtures
(Kick-offs at 3pm unless stated).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Premier
League <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday
<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Norwich 1-2 Southampton <br />
QPR 2-1 Sunderland<br />
Reading 1-1 Aston Villa<br />
West Brom 1-1 Swansea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Newcastle 2-0 Stoke City<br />
Liverpool 3-2 Tottenham (K.O. 4pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>FA Cup<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everton 3-1 Wigan (K.O. 12:45pm) <br />
Man City 4-0 Barnsley (K.O. 5:30pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Millwall 1-0 Blackburn
(K.O. 2pm) <br />
Man Utd 3-2 Chelsea (K.O. 4:30pm)</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-75409237123274575172013-02-28T07:22:00.000+00:002013-02-28T11:36:47.701+00:00Premier League Predictions - 2nd, 3rd & 4th March 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s1600/barclays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s400/barclays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This weekend’s
Premier League fixtures include Chelsea vs West Brom, Southampton vs QPR,
Swansea vs Newcastle and Wigan vs Liverpool on Saturday, Tottenham vs Arsenal
in the North London derby on Sunday and Aston Villa vs Man City on Monday
night. Here are my predictions for this weekend’s action (all kick-offs at 3pm
unless stated).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea 3-1 West Brom<br />
Everton 2-1 Reading<br />
Man Utd 3-0 Norwich<br />
Southampton 2-1 QPR<br />
Stoke 2-2 West Ham<br />
Sunderland 1-1 Fulham<br />
Swansea 3-2 Newcastle<br />
Wigan 1-2 Liverpool (K.O. 5:30pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal (K.O. 4pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aston Villa 0-3 Man City (K.O. 8pm)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-26508633780895243002013-02-21T19:49:00.000+00:002013-02-21T19:53:23.599+00:00Premier League Predictions - 23rd, 24th & 25th February 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s1600/barclays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s400/barclays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to
normal business this weekend with Premier League fixtures including, Fulham vs
Stoke, Man City vs Chelsea and West Ham vs Tottenham.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last time out, Southampton pulled out a surprise 3-1 win
against Man City, Arsenal only managed a 1-0 win away at Sunderland and West
Brom defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield. Liverpool also played an additional
fixture a week later against Swansea, which they won 5-0.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Saturday, Fulham host Stoke in the early kick-off,
Reading play against fellow strugglers Wigan and QPR host Premier League
leaders, Man Utd. On Sunday, Man City will play against Chelsea and Southampton
will travel to St James Park to play Newcastle. One Monday fixture concludes this
week’s Premier League, as West Ham will play Tottenham at Upton Park.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are my predictions for this weekend (All kick-offs at
3pm unless stated).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday
<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fulham 1-0 Stoke (K.O. 12:45pm) <br />
Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa <br />
Norwich 1-2 Everton<br />
QPR 1-3 Man Utd<br />
Reading 3-3 Wigan<br />
West Brom 2-1 Sunderland <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man City 2-2 Chelsea (K.O. 1:30pm) <br />
Newcastle 1-2 Southampton (K.O. 1:30pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">West Ham 1-2 Tottenham (K.O. 8pm)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-20076085860163539832013-02-19T23:23:00.002+00:002013-02-19T23:23:59.998+00:00Arsenal 1-3 Bayern Munich - Match Report<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGrHwQ4iUDVFt3dqpGFpaWEU_elv2LeEMaHfxkI360krwdoe9ixSjiFbKeUJwkrWgKA8ZsTOFWb2MkG7GqKf9xTICvGYDJOEPJpHrYv4ZvSpRvZsjQd5SvwGhIeZPsRhLc71GFgnbnQK5/s1600/Glyn+Kirk+-+AFP+-+Getty+Images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGrHwQ4iUDVFt3dqpGFpaWEU_elv2LeEMaHfxkI360krwdoe9ixSjiFbKeUJwkrWgKA8ZsTOFWb2MkG7GqKf9xTICvGYDJOEPJpHrYv4ZvSpRvZsjQd5SvwGhIeZPsRhLc71GFgnbnQK5/s400/Glyn+Kirk+-+AFP+-+Getty+Images.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thomas Muller scores the second <br />goal for Bayern Munich - Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thomas
Muller helps Bayern Munich defeated Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates giving them a
two-goal advantage in the second leg at the Allianz Arena.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a disappointing loss to Blackburn in the FA Cup at the
weekend, this wasn’t the result that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was hoping
for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It only took seven minutes for Bayern Munich to break the
dead-lock, after a shot driven into the ground by Toni Kroos from the edge of
the area found its way to the back of the net. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And by 20 minutes, they were 2-0 up thanks to a Thomas
Muller goal from a Daniel Van Buyten corner. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Throughout the first half, Arsenal had many chances to test Bayern
Munich’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But holding up the ball from the likes of Theo Walcott and
Mikel Arteta before shooting gave Bayern Munich’s defence enough time to come
back and clear any opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With hardly any clear goal-scoring chances for Arsenal, the
half time score was 2-0 to Bayern Munich. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ten minutes into the second half though, Arsenal got their
first and only goal of the game. Lukas Podolski managed to header in a Jack
Wilshere corner, which for some reason was allowed to bounce in the box
beforehand. It wasn’t attacked by any other players as it passed through the
box either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When subs Oliver Giroud and Tomas Rosicky came on for
Podolski and Aaron Ramsey, they had an instant impact and produced another
chance for Arsenal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good long ball by Rosicky to Walcott, whose cross found
Giroud in the box, forced Neuer to produce a save to stop Giroud’s shot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bayern Munich restored their two-goal lead not long after
though. A Phillip Lahm cross was able to find Mario Mandzukic who miss hit the
ball, but it bounced its way across the goal line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few minutes later, Bayern Munich had two chances to
increase their lead further. Luiz Gustavo’s shot from outside the box was saved
by Wojciech Szczesny, and Mario Gomez’s shot on the rebound went over the
crossbar. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As no more goals were scored, the final score was Arsenal
1-3 Bayern Munich.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although Arsenal fans will be disappointed, they should be
able to recover quickly as not a lot of people predicted them to beat Bayern
Munich. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The teams will meet again on Wednesday 13<sup>th</sup> March
at the Allianz Arena in Germany for the second leg. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stats<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arsenal<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Goals: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Podolski
– 55’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Line-up:
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Szczesny,
Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Arteta, Wilshere, Walcott, Ramsey (Rosicky
- 71'), Cazorla, Podolski (Giroud - 71’).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Unused
subs: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Mannone, Jenkinson, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Booked:
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sagna,
Vermaelen, Arteta, Ramsey, Podolski<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<b>Bayern Munich<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Goals: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Kroos –
7’, Muller – 21’, Mandzukic – 77’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Line-up:
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Neuer,
Dante, Van Buyten, Lahm, Ribery (Robben - 63’), Martinez, Muller, Alaba, Schweinsteiger,
Kroos (Gustavo - 73’), Mandzukic (Gomez - 78’)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Unused
subs: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tom Starke, Rafinha, Shaqiri, Tymoschuk<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Booked:
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lahm,
Muller, Schweinsteiger<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Ref: </b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Oddvar Moen</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attendance:
</span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">59,974</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-48044579495044411012013-02-15T11:03:00.000+00:002013-02-15T11:03:40.390+00:00NFL Combine workout drills explained<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsxhHYHgyN5SzxGCTCpU7ZpZsV4mIQUebqxK2vQOYMXodvDIZqvsME0eP2WiVLISBefHK6QNdgKJ9JSGfVf4QF5JhtEdpiuly5pkvbbofCOS4SU4ril3By1TaTGXbyMi1vTN2WX8wEiU0/s1600/16696716_BG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsxhHYHgyN5SzxGCTCpU7ZpZsV4mIQUebqxK2vQOYMXodvDIZqvsME0eP2WiVLISBefHK6QNdgKJ9JSGfVf4QF5JhtEdpiuly5pkvbbofCOS4SU4ril3By1TaTGXbyMi1vTN2WX8wEiU0/s400/16696716_BG1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NFL
action is back with the NFL Combine is just around the corner, taking place on
the 23<sup>rd</sup>-26<sup>th</sup> February 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you that are unfamiliar with it, the NFL
Combine is when the best college prospects are invited to Lucas Oil Stadium in
Indianapolis to take part in a series of physical and mental test which they
will be assessed on by NFL coaches, scouts and general managers from all 32
teams. The NFL Combine is a key event in the NFL as in the past, it has ultimately
decide a players’ future as it can determine where they go in the draft, their
salary and the perception a player receives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a summary of all of the main workout will drills which
take place at the NFL Combine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">40-yard dash<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this drill, players will be timed to see how quickly they
can run 40 yards. This event is all about speed and reaction times. Scouts will
be looking at not only what time the player can run the drill in, but also the
explosion a player can achieve from a static start which ultimately shows a
good reaction time. Players’ times are taken at 10 yards, 20 yards and at 40
yards from the start line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bench
Press<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This drill is all about the strength and endurance of a
player. The player must rep 225 pounds as many times as they can in one minute.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vertical
Jump<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This drill simulates the situation of a player having to
jump in the air to reach the ball, so it’s a good demonstration of a player’s
leg power and explosion. The measurement is from where the player can reach
standing flat-footed, to where the player reaches to when he jumps in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Broad
Jump<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this drill, players will start in a stance and then they
jump as far as he can forward and land without losing balance. This test is
therefore measuring a player’s balance, explosion from a stance and their
lower-body explosion and strength.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 cone
drill<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This drill tests a players ability to change directions
quickly whilst still maintain a high speed. The drill is set out with three
cones in the shape of the letter ‘L’. From the start line, the player must run
five yards to the first cone and back. He then turns, runs around the second
cone, runs a weave around the inside of the third cone, comes back to the
second and then back to the start which is the finish point. A player who runs
this drill quickly will show good agility.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shuttle
Run<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The player starts the drill in a 3 point stance. He then
sprints five yards to the right, touches the line, sprints ten yards to the
left, touches the line, then sprints five yards to the right to the start and
finishes. This tests a player’s speed and explosion.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below is a video of Tim Tebow at the 2010 NFL Combine performing all of the drills mentioned above except for the Bench Press.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6jyMc8rXmJg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-71490410325797850822013-02-14T14:48:00.000+00:002013-02-14T14:48:03.178+00:00FA Cup and Premier League Predictions - 16th, 17th & 18th February 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtzWcAZIW3TLYaTygR0x2gVANm2WT2Yg16Tftxr1tuUlE7Vl6OawllEk-nJkt5tHplzLj6v-Q5TS2DuTED-f-T4o3aT3B_1nAKH9-0yUIj7uPCWG-Zd_j6cCnb43e9Y7GTeKdyB3EjLiC/s1600/fa-cup-premier-league.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtzWcAZIW3TLYaTygR0x2gVANm2WT2Yg16Tftxr1tuUlE7Vl6OawllEk-nJkt5tHplzLj6v-Q5TS2DuTED-f-T4o3aT3B_1nAKH9-0yUIj7uPCWG-Zd_j6cCnb43e9Y7GTeKdyB3EjLiC/s400/fa-cup-premier-league.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Special edition of predictions for you guys and gals this weekend as it includes FA Cup 5<sup>th</sup>
round, FA Cup 4<sup>th</sup> round replays and Premier League predictions. Aren’t
you all very lucky! Here are my predictions for this weekend (All kick-offs at
3pm unless stated).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FA Cup
5<sup>th</sup> round<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luton 1-2 Millwall (K.O. 12:45pm)<br />
Arsenal 3-1 Blackburn<br />
MK Dons 2-1 Barnsley<br />
Oldham 2-3 Everton (K.O. 6pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man City 2-1 Leeds Utd (K.O. 2pm)<br />
Huddersfield 2-1 Wigan (K.O. 3:55pm (Don’t ask me why!))<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man Utd 4-2 Reading (K.O. 8pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><u>FA Cup 4<sup>th</sup> round replay</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The winners of Chelsea vs Brentford will travel to the
Riverside to play against Middlesbrough on the Wednesday 27<sup>th</sup>
February <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea 4-2 Brentford<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<b><u>Premier League<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liverpool 2-1 Swansea </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-16042443572441539442013-02-13T09:30:00.000+00:002013-02-13T09:30:00.490+00:00Premier League title could be decided before or on Manchester Derby day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmcG6SN1BADUDAw36WbRl2ygZNiRoieoNOoakfA_6P9F-NTTWDUC8ObeNn5g1KZGrzotacyauDMaf_xkxOwDExfwK2zpQnp0m76iZtV0XAxyWCW_jc015iKWkyXSAuDOySAWWJ8HQcoRz/s1600/Manchester-City-United-Roberto-Mancini-Sir-Al_2756554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmcG6SN1BADUDAw36WbRl2ygZNiRoieoNOoakfA_6P9F-NTTWDUC8ObeNn5g1KZGrzotacyauDMaf_xkxOwDExfwK2zpQnp0m76iZtV0XAxyWCW_jc015iKWkyXSAuDOySAWWJ8HQcoRz/s400/Manchester-City-United-Roberto-Mancini-Sir-Al_2756554.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">They
think it’s all over. It could be now! Manchester United is currently 12 points
clear at the top of the Premier League and ahead of their rivals, Manchester
City. I believe that United will win the title if City fails to decrease this
lead by half in the five games running up to and including the Manchester Derby
on 6<sup>th</sup> April.</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Derby game will be at Old Trafford so have no doubt the
United fans will be rubbing the points difference in the City fans faces, just
like City did when they defeated United 6-1 back in October 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This time last season, City was sitting on the top of the
table, five points clear of United but United had a game in hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City’s home record was impeccable too having won all 14
league home games at this point of the season, scoring 42 goals and only
conceding six.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This season has been a different story though as they won
nine, drawn three and lost one game at home, scoring 29 and conceding 11.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their away form has taken a slight hit when compared to last
season too. City’s current away record of winning six, drawing five and losing
two games is a marginal decrease from last season’s record at this point of
winning seven, drawing three and losing three.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, a lot of fans of the Premier League will say the
main reason for the separation between the two clubs is one man, United’s
summer signing of Robin Van Persie, but I don’t believe this is the case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">United’s home and away record this season is more-or-less
the same as what it was at this point last season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So if you removed £22.5m Van Persie from the United squad,
would the likes of Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck be able to step
up to fill his place? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The answer is clearly yes as shown from how United performed
last season when they didn’t have RVP at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Granted, City would definitely be performing better this
season if they were able to persuade RVP to come to them last season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they don’t have him and most of their strikers have
failed to match or improve on their goal scoring records from last season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sergio Aguero has only scored nine goals this season in the
Premier League. He has a lot of goals to find if he is to match his 23 goals he
scored last season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carlos Tevez has scored seven goals this season, improving
on his last season Premier League goal scoring record of four. However, I still
don’t think this is good enough for a striker of Manchester City.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Edin Dzeko is City’s top goal scorer this season with 11
goals, three shy of his tally last season of 14. But it’s a similar situation
as Tevez as I still don’t believe this is good enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City’s defence has been better than United’s defence this
season, having only conceded 24 goals compared to United who have conceded 31
goals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But without a striking force getting the goals, this means a
lot of draws have occurred this season for City, eight in total.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With five games to go before the Manchester Derby on the 6<sup>th</sup>
April, in my eyes, City need to half the points difference between them and
United if they still want to be in title contention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It won’t be easy for City, as they have tough games against
Chelsea, Everton and a newly reformed Newcastle side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">United’s run of games before the Manchester Derby seems to
come cross a lot easier, with ties against QPR, Norwich and Reading.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With all this taken into consideration though, United seem
to have the upper hand so I think United will win the title if they stay on
their current form and not allow their point lead ahead of City to decrease.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City’s manager Roberto Mancini recently admitted he feels
his side now has a 10% chance of winning the Premier League and he must make
changes to his squad if he is to make this 10% achievable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson is not the type of
manager to admit that the job is done until the final whistle on the last day
of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And he’s right to think so as any City fans will tell you
too, thanks to Aguero’s 95<sup>th</sup> minute goal on the last day of last
season, anything is possible and nothing should be written off early.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-37343763034675706622013-02-11T22:01:00.000+00:002013-02-11T22:01:37.119+00:00Premier League Round-Up - 9th, 10th & 11th February 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s1600/barclays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s400/barclays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a
weekend of Premier League action which has provided us with some unexpected score-lines.
Here is a round-up of all the Premier League results from this weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Saturday</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tottenham
2-1 Newcastle – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Two goals by Gareth Bale was enough to see off
Newcastle United at White Hart Lane and keep Tottenham Hotspur on track towards
earning a Champions League spot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Chelsea
4-1 Wigan – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Chelsea end their four-match winless streak with
a 4-1 thrashing of Wigan at Stamford Bridge with Frank Lampard increasing his
goals tally for the club to 198.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Norwich
0-0 Fulham – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Norwich and Fulham could only produce a 0-0 draw
at Carrow Road, meaning Norwich’s winless streak has extended to nine games.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Stoke
2-1 Reading </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">– Stoke City earned themselves their first win
of 2013 with a 2-1 win at the Britannia against an in-form Reading side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sunderland
0-1 Arsenal – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">10 men Arsenal were able to defeat Sunderland
1-0 at the Stadium of Light thanks to a first half goal by Santi Cazorla.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Swansea
4-1 QPR </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">– QPR’s five-match unbeaten run was ended by Swansea as they
managed to defeat them 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Southampton
3-1 Man City – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Southampton pull off a surprise win at St Mary’s
when they defeated Manchester City 3-1, putting a dent in City’s title hopes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Sunday</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Aston
Villa 2-1 West Ham – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Aston Villa have moved out of the relegation
zone thanks to a 2-1 win against West Ham at Villa Park.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Man Utd
2-0 Everton – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Manchester United open a 12-point gap at the top
of the Premier League with a 2-0 win against Everton at Old Trafford.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Monday </u><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liverpool 0–2 West Brom – </span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A headed goal by Gareth McAuley was the catalyst
that allowed West Brom to collect all three points at Anfield with a 2-0 win
against Liverpool.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-61231816725180916192013-02-07T13:29:00.000+00:002013-02-07T13:30:16.269+00:00Premier League Predictions - 9th, 10th & 11th February 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s1600/barclays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s400/barclays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
were some great games last weekend including Newcastle winning 3-2 against
Chelsea from 2-1 down, Reading defeating Sunderland 2-1, Aston Villa drawing
3-3 with Everton, Wigan drawing 2-2 with Southampton and Manchester City
drawing 2-2 with Liverpool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
weekend should provide just as good action including match ups of Tottenham vs
Newcastle, Norwich vs Fulham and Stoke hosting an in-form Reading side on Saturday.
On Sunday there’s Aston Villa vs West Ham and Manchester United vs Everton. We
finally conclude this weekend’s action with a Monday night game of Liverpool vs
West Brom (All kick-offs at 3pm unless stated).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tottenham 3-2 Newcastle (K.O. 12:45pm)<br />
Chelsea 3-0 Wigan<br />
Norwich 1-1 Fulham<br />
Stoke 2-2 Reading<br />
Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal<br />
Swansea 3-2 QPR<br />
Southampton 0-2 Man City (K.O. 5:30pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aston Villa 2-2 West Ham (K.O. 1:30pm)<br />
Man Utd 3-2 Everton (K.O. 4pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liverpool 3-1 West Brom (K.O. 8pm)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-69038886287528801122013-02-04T16:07:00.001+00:002013-02-05T02:08:43.778+00:00Baltimore Ravens 34-31 San Francisco 49ers - Superbowl Match Report<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7G98f_XdhqrMNtv-t9XXeLoN02IQ1G16oWmz-gCAKdM9g1B9JohQN2fDICcnHbvw-g_Ear5ARYNDzLtpw8QWUulnyPNeuemt5yPa5yJmtWelgevY_rnYVzZqTPWlxEM8_Q8YX7uW0Yw7/s1600/JoeFlaccoMVP_crop_exact.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7G98f_XdhqrMNtv-t9XXeLoN02IQ1G16oWmz-gCAKdM9g1B9JohQN2fDICcnHbvw-g_Ear5ARYNDzLtpw8QWUulnyPNeuemt5yPa5yJmtWelgevY_rnYVzZqTPWlxEM8_Q8YX7uW0Yw7/s400/JoeFlaccoMVP_crop_exact.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe Flacco - Superbowl MVP</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baltimore
Ravens QB Joe Flacco pulls out a Superbowl MVP winning performance as the Ravens
defeat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the Superbowl at the Mercedes-Benz
Superdome in New Orleans.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This also gave the best possible ending to Ravens LB Ray
Lewis, as he was able to retire from the sport as a champion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ravens won the coin toss and decided to allow the 49ers
receive the ball first, keeping to their tradition of letting their opposition
have possession first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they quickly got the ball back after forcing the 49ers
three and out, and they started with good field position too, on their own 49
yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they took advantage of this field position three plays
into their drive with a deep right pass from Flacco to WR Torrey Smith for 20
yards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then another three plays later, they capped it off with a 14
yard touchdown pass from Flacco to WR Anquan Boldin, the first score of the
game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1Ga0u19OWoQxDtMWm9vj6hM4GiRyVV6R2iPmk2tC8l-bv39SFy7BDKfuVDVSl8esuoMoIG8FyTvOp0dsN2vYBHD1aE4GfyamRUReKjTjHPjC7YpmBv5vL7OLRYcty909Wi9lsyMC6_cd/s1600/Anquan+Boldin+TD+first+quarter+REUTERS+-+Jim+Young.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1Ga0u19OWoQxDtMWm9vj6hM4GiRyVV6R2iPmk2tC8l-bv39SFy7BDKfuVDVSl8esuoMoIG8FyTvOp0dsN2vYBHD1aE4GfyamRUReKjTjHPjC7YpmBv5vL7OLRYcty909Wi9lsyMC6_cd/s320/Anquan+Boldin+TD+first+quarter+REUTERS+-+Jim+Young.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anquan Boldin touchdown - <br />REUTERS/Jim Young</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">On the eighth play of their next possession, the 49ers
entered the RedZone for the first time in the game thanks to a 24 yard pass
from QB Colin Kaepernick to TE Vernon Davis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they were reduced to a 36 yard field goal by K David
Akers and not a touchdown, as Ravens LB Paul Kruger was able to sack Kaepernick
for a loss of 10 yards, the first sack of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ravens continued their good start on their next field
possession when Flacco and Boldin connected for a 30 yard pass on the sixth
play of their drive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were unable to capitalize though as three plays later,
Flacco was sacked by 49ers DE Ray McDonald for a loss of five yards, forcing
them to punt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 49ers started with the ball in the second quarter and on
their first play, Kaepernick was able to link up with Davis again for 29 yards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But once again they were unable to capitalize as their RB
LaMichael James fumbled the ball on the Ravens 25 yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ball was then recovered by Ravens DE Arthur Jones,
causing the first turnover of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the sixth play of their drive, Flacco was able to find TE
Ed Dickson for 23 yards to the 49ers 29 yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They then concluded the drive four plays later, with a one
yard pass from Flacco to TE Dennis Pitta in the right part of the endzone,
giving them a two possession lead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It only took one play from the 49ers on their next drive for
the Ravens to get the ball back and cause the second turnover of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kaepernick’s deep pass intended for WR Randy Moss was intercepted
by Ravens FS Ed Reed, the first pick of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This also gave the Ravens good starting field position, as
they started their drive on the 49ers 38 yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the 49ers defense was able to force the Ravens to
go for a field goal after eight plays in their drive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">History was made in the Superbowl on the next play though,
as the Ravens attempted a fake field goal. This is the first time it has ever
been attempted in the Superbowl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly though, it wasn’t converted, as Ravens K Justin Tucker
was forced out of bounds at the 49ers six yard line, leaving him one yard shy
of the first down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the Ravens defense forced the 49ers to another three
and out, the Ravens started another possession in good field position, from
their own 44 yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And once again they took full advantage as on the third
play, Flacco found WR Jacoby Jones who was able to weave his way into the
endzone for a 56 yard touchdown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKsK-BbV71LaQ-FtXiToSv_Ih4skaTdbe2QLRpoQgIEYzVm-0vD4BjGEa8OcAFVJwyMScBnkAWxR1qLKwFBSKVifexxG1L4tvVPErEMY3xzOuwFMT-WaSzfz-OM2dahkjFl8gSIYJx_D9/s1600/Associated+Press+Jones+56+TD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKsK-BbV71LaQ-FtXiToSv_Ih4skaTdbe2QLRpoQgIEYzVm-0vD4BjGEa8OcAFVJwyMScBnkAWxR1qLKwFBSKVifexxG1L4tvVPErEMY3xzOuwFMT-WaSzfz-OM2dahkjFl8gSIYJx_D9/s320/Associated+Press+Jones+56+TD.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jacoby Jones - Associated Press</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">This gave the Ravens a three possession lead with less than
two minutes remaining in the second quarter.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 49ers entered the RedZone for the second time in the
game on their four play of their drive, courtesy of a 28 yard pass from
Kaepernick to TE Delaine Walker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But two plays later, Kaepernick was sacked for the second
time in the game by Kruger, forcing them to settle for a field goal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This made the half time score 21-6 to the Ravens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ravens started off the second half in style, as WR J. Jones
was able to return a kick-off for 108 yards for a touchdown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the longest ever kick-off return in Superbowl
history.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA_iss-WqKVJHOboVh-m7Jd0mLnzUYvzQKAEYodwhOrya4PcIdjNy4ubm6QPPWUsV6aADrscQkEeQgnGeBC0KApaTk8IqHNSe7M7cZVfy82MGkBaeHsproEL9SUQKcMa3hGKYIgJ3saiu/s1600/Reuters+Jones+KOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA_iss-WqKVJHOboVh-m7Jd0mLnzUYvzQKAEYodwhOrya4PcIdjNy4ubm6QPPWUsV6aADrscQkEeQgnGeBC0KApaTk8IqHNSe7M7cZVfy82MGkBaeHsproEL9SUQKcMa3hGKYIgJ3saiu/s320/Reuters+Jones+KOR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jacoby Jones scoring on <br />kick-off return - REUTERS</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Kaepernick started off the 49ers next drive well with a 29 yard
pass to WR Michael Crabtree.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two plays later though, Kaepernick was sacked for a loss of
six yards by DE A. Jones, Ravens’ third sack of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After this play, there was a power cut in one half of the
Superdome, causing the game to be delayed. Action wasn’t resumed again for
another half an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOx6_SonhrDw_zW7MigazckQ3YkpYWtCpVDweXr1bJqqigLQGjR-nwkkIkofZel3jFa3NUjPqCzjbnnekxnGaFsGrNbEEyliHNRWOryP1mbKROMlrdo1MfNliQMv9K5uUyOyjukfq9_Csb/s1600/Associated+Press+ref+in+dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOx6_SonhrDw_zW7MigazckQ3YkpYWtCpVDweXr1bJqqigLQGjR-nwkkIkofZel3jFa3NUjPqCzjbnnekxnGaFsGrNbEEyliHNRWOryP1mbKROMlrdo1MfNliQMv9K5uUyOyjukfq9_Csb/s320/Associated+Press+ref+in+dark.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Referee stands in the dark - Associated Press</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The power outage seemed to work in the 49ers favour as when
they regained possession, they started to add points more frequently to the
board and play like the team that was favourites to win the Superbowl.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crabtree gave the 49ers their first touchdown after catching
a pass from Kaepernick and running it for 31 yards, breaking two tackles along
the way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 49ers defense then forced the Ravens three and out as
Flacco was sacked by LB Ahmad Brooks for a loss of eight yards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">49ers return specialist Ted Ginn was then able to return the
Ravens’ punt for 32 yards, allowing his team to start their drive on the Ravens
20 yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">RB Frank Gore reduced the Ravens lead to eight two plays
into the 49ers drive, when he scored a six yard touchdown run.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORXWXuRh7-P_3Nx3zLQvCouXVQCAfoLUyboWCz_nQLnFd5LAk9bJ3gJ9B4fRp5ve4FNvri9nVcZ1npEGR4u2I4mk-1fpAcHdAZdIGgVO42FP-foAOzkmIoXO21D32Svpdyd8GCeByuoIl/s1600/reuters+Gore+TD+3rd+quarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORXWXuRh7-P_3Nx3zLQvCouXVQCAfoLUyboWCz_nQLnFd5LAk9bJ3gJ9B4fRp5ve4FNvri9nVcZ1npEGR4u2I4mk-1fpAcHdAZdIGgVO42FP-foAOzkmIoXO21D32Svpdyd8GCeByuoIl/s320/reuters+Gore+TD+3rd+quarter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frank Gore scores a touchdown - REUTERS</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Two plays into the Ravens next drive, the second fumble of
the game occurred. RB Ray Rice fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Tarell
Brown, the third turnover of the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the 49ers starting with the ball on the Ravens 24 yard
line, they had another opportunity to add a touchdown to their score.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, they were forced three and out, and they had to
settle for a 34 yard field goal by Akers, reducing the Ravens lead to five
points.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three plays into the Ravens next drive, Flacco was able to connect
with Boldin again for 30 yards. This looked like the catalyst that would
restart the game for the Ravens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But as the drive went into the start of the fourth quarter, they
had to settle for a 19 yard field goal by Tucker, restoring Ravens’ eight point
lead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kaepernick was able to find Moss on the second play of their
next drive for 32 yards. Then Kaepernick capped off the drive three plays later
with a 15 yard run for a touchdown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oqUgrqJJx9fdvALRb38IdaKzpb6vymSS6ohXtv4FQZ2QBWa5Mam7ONr6FAdObIrnTaHtdOJN9ZTkkeMQGCqk91mH5JR6H_VjiBbYA_bPctI3TB7RG8O3z2eZAtxYfJjFUFIEMwFmgVOu/s1600/AP+Photo-Matt+Slocum+Kaepernick+TD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oqUgrqJJx9fdvALRb38IdaKzpb6vymSS6ohXtv4FQZ2QBWa5Mam7ONr6FAdObIrnTaHtdOJN9ZTkkeMQGCqk91mH5JR6H_VjiBbYA_bPctI3TB7RG8O3z2eZAtxYfJjFUFIEMwFmgVOu/s320/AP+Photo-Matt+Slocum+Kaepernick+TD.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kaepernick's touchdown run past <br />Ed Reed - AP Photo/Matt Slocum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The 49ers did attempt a two-point conversation after the
touchdown, but this failed as Kaepernick’s pass for Moss was overthrown.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the Ravens leading now by only two points, they surged
down the field to try and add more points to the board.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, after ten plays, they had to settle for a 38 yard
field goal by Tucker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the 49ers next drive, they looked like they would score
another touchdown after two fantastic back-to-back plays by Crabtree and Gore
respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first was on the four play of their drive and it was a
deep middle 24 yard pass to Crabtree. It was quickly followed up on the next
play by Gore with a 33 yard run to the Ravens seven yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were unable to complete the drive on the ninth play as
a pass intended for Crabtree was incomplete, causing a change in possession.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ravens then played very tactically, running down the
clock to four seconds and giving the 49ers a safety, but they still gave a
chance for the 49ers to win the game on the kick return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 49ers though were unable to conjure up anything from
this, meaning the Ravens won the game 34-31.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim-GOJgQRWzoASoOZvipuHQj3xhltuk3TxJMGZ0YR58gf7OQyRvYcvD_0hJC4YHSwA0Sw9MrpVSwkmsQpxhMbMWFMkcjj6lKkwiknYvVHONOURZQrYds_HPz75fSKkZK56VgycDYW_U4N/s1600/LUCY+NICHOLSON+-+REUTERS+lewis+with+trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim-GOJgQRWzoASoOZvipuHQj3xhltuk3TxJMGZ0YR58gf7OQyRvYcvD_0hJC4YHSwA0Sw9MrpVSwkmsQpxhMbMWFMkcjj6lKkwiknYvVHONOURZQrYds_HPz75fSKkZK56VgycDYW_U4N/s320/LUCY+NICHOLSON+-+REUTERS+lewis+with+trophy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ray Lewis lifts the <br />Vince Lombardi trophy - Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">This was a dream come true for Lewis, as he was able to
retire from the game as a champion for only the second time in his career.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This also means that Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh and the
Ravens have kept their 100% record at the Superbowl, winning on both occasions they
have been there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But for John’s brother and 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and
the 49ers, their 100% record is over, as they have been to the Superbowl on six
occasions but only won five times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-7F9h13IU9hJADMU6xDh_qbzecdYFHx0sCiMyyXKpcHbhVLCXAcBJEt5S2dKaGFqFMdepqxJuy872Js6B8wq1qnU9zmdY-bVaiiGEXj9XmTizXSZK2Ep2KUtI4XFWxfrrAHY8zR_CUhK/s1600/jim+and+john+reuters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-7F9h13IU9hJADMU6xDh_qbzecdYFHx0sCiMyyXKpcHbhVLCXAcBJEt5S2dKaGFqFMdepqxJuy872Js6B8wq1qnU9zmdY-bVaiiGEXj9XmTizXSZK2Ep2KUtI4XFWxfrrAHY8zR_CUhK/s320/jim+and+john+reuters.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jim (left) and John Harbaugh (right) <br />congratulate each other - REUTERS</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">For his fantastic performance of 287 yards, three touchdowns
and no interceptions, Joe Flacco earned himself the Superbowl MVP award,
meaning the MVP award has gone to a QB for the fourth year in a row.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, NFL action is now over till the season starts up again
in September. Don’t worry though, you can see how future NFL prospects do in
the NFL Combine which starts on the 20<sup>th</sup> February and concludes on
the 26<sup>th</sup> February. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then you can see where they get drafted in the NFL Draft. This
starts on the 25<sup>th</sup> April and then finishes on the 27<sup>th</sup>
April. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-45531882411821651972013-02-01T11:17:00.000+00:002013-02-01T11:17:10.569+00:00Premier League Predictions - 2nd & 3rd February 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s1600/barclays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s320/barclays.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
transfer window is over so now it’s time to focus back on this weekend’s
Premier League action. Last time out, Arsenal and Reading came back to draw 2-2
after going 2-0 down to Liverpool and Chelsea respectively, QPR and Sunderland
could only manage 0-0 draws against Manchester City and Swansea respectively
and Newcastle were able to defeat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
weekend, QPR will play against Norwich in the Saturday early game, Wigan will
play against fellow strugglers Southampton and Manchester United will travel to
Craven Cottage to play against Fulham in the Saturday evening game. On Sunday,
West Brom will host Tottenham and Manchester City will play against Liverpool.
Here are my predictions for this weekend (Kick-offs are at 3pm unless stated):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">QPR 3-2 Norwich (K.O. 12:45pm)<br />
Arsenal 3-1 Stoke<br />
Everton 2-0 Aston Villa<br />
Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea<br />
Reading 2-3 Sunderland<br />
West Ham 1-3 Swansea<br />
Wigan 2-2 Southampton<br />
Fulham 1-3 Man Utd (K.O. 5:30pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">West Brom 1-3 Tottenham (K.O. 1:30pm) <br />
Man City 3-2 Liverpool (K.O. 4pm)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-61304080252946009002013-01-30T23:51:00.000+00:002013-01-30T23:51:03.950+00:00Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool - Match Report<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIImgIM5hr2zIylfUqPtEiNd1lEiGzfAWp8RScUK9-QU5hDB3gAp30sSiLXmuontra3c1qs3wvkq-nV3i5ecy3dhkN_R3pM7T2l4pkI72MJy0q284FcAw9HRY6PQ0HsDdj9KhyphenhyphenyP6IYOgD/s1600/Theo+Walcott+celebrates+his+goal+for+Arsenal+against+Liverpool+(AFP).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIImgIM5hr2zIylfUqPtEiNd1lEiGzfAWp8RScUK9-QU5hDB3gAp30sSiLXmuontra3c1qs3wvkq-nV3i5ecy3dhkN_R3pM7T2l4pkI72MJy0q284FcAw9HRY6PQ0HsDdj9KhyphenhyphenyP6IYOgD/s400/Theo+Walcott+celebrates+his+goal+for+Arsenal+against+Liverpool+(AFP).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Theo Walcott celebrates his goal <br />for Arsenal against Liverpool (AFP)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Two goals in two minutes gave Arsenal a
fighting chance to win against Liverpool at the Emirates, but the game ended
2-2 as neither side was able to find a winning goal.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An early goal by Luis Suarez gave
Liverpool the lead, and Jordan Henderson doubled it when he scored 15 minutes
into the second half.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But two goals in two minutes by
Oliver Giroud and Theo Walcott put Arsenal back into the game. Neither side was
able to find a winning goal though, meaning the points had to be shared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liverpool got off to a strong
start, as five minutes into the game, Suarez put his side ahead after his shot
took a slight deflection from Arsenal's Bacary Sagna, past Wojciech Szczesny to
the back of the net.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arsenal had several chances
throughout the first half to equalise, with Theo Walcott and Oliver Giroud
having two chances each in the space of ten minutes after the first goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walcott's shot ten minutes in was
cleared, giving Liverpool a chance to counter-attack. Suarez obtained the ball
and lofted it towards fellow striker </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel Sturridge, whose shot went wide of
the left post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Podolski provided further
opportunities for Arsenal to score, but these were cleared for corners which
Arsenal were unable to develop further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liverpool had another opening to
go further ahead when captain Steven Gerrard had an opportunity to score.
However, his chance was stopped and cleared on the line by Podolski.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in the second half, their
second goal came as Henderson's persistency at goal during an attack
paid off. His initial shot was deflected, but the ball came straight back to
him, allowing him to slot it into the back of the net.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not long after this, Arsenal
earned a free kick just outside Liverpool's penalty area. Jack Wilshere crossed
the ball over to Giroud who headed the ball past Liverpool's Pepe Reina into
the net, reducing Liverpool's lead to one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two minutes later, the game was
level thanks to Walcott. His belting shot from the right to the left bottom
corner of the goal put Arsenal back into contention to win the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arsenal had a chance to take the
lead for the first time through Podolski just a minute later. His shot from a
Santi Cazorla pass though went just over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the last ten minutes, Giroud
had two opportunities to give Arsenal the win, one of these being a header
which was deflected over the bar for a corner. The other was a cross by
Podolski but he missed the ball completely and missed the chance to give his
team the win.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This made the final score 2-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arsenal now have only managed to
achieve four points out of a possible 15 in their last five league games,
raising further questions of Arsene Wenger's management this season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liverpool have earned 10 points
out of a possible 15 in their last five league games, putting them in good form
for their next game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on the 3rd
February.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for Arsenal, their next game is
against Stoke City at home on the 2nd February. They haven't lost against Stoke
since May 2011 but their last two meetings have ended in draws.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both Arsenal and Liverpool will need to start winning consistently soon if they wish to qualify for next season's Champions League.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Match
Facts</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Arsenal</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Line up<span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><strong>- </strong>Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker,
Vermaelen, Gibbs (Santos - 37’), Wilshere, Walcott, Ramsey, Cazorla,
Podolski, Giroud<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unused Subs - Mannone, Koscielny,
Jenkinson, Diaby, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scorers - Giroud 64', Walcott 67'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yellow Cards - Cazorla 25', Giroud
85', Mertesacker 90'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Red Cards - None<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Liverpool</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Line up - Reina, Johnson, Agger,
Carragher, Wisdom, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Lucas, Suarez, Sturridge (Jose
Enrique 71')<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unused Subs - Jones, Skrtel,
Allen, Sterling, Shelvey, Borini<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scorers - Suarez 5', Henderson 60'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yellow Cards - Gerrard 73'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Red Cards - None</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-89500432072628036472013-01-28T10:48:00.000+00:002013-01-28T10:48:32.321+00:00Premier League Predictions - 29th/30th January 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s1600/barclays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv84UaFFBKs1bvcEIIONSm5MgwQlUbvl2VY_Ls3bFiB_Et4OXV1-lYytam0K34AKX7YPrB2IerHmgIffCrgntqvHxWaarWmHwJqLna9TTrAVWGPeP51l8qIYM0uZgrPpuNc2tUeXdojoSD/s400/barclays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the
last Premier League fixtures, Liverpool defeated Norwich 5-0, Reading came back
to win 2-1 against Newcastle, Chelsea won 2-1 against Arsenal and Tottenham’s
Clint Dempsey helped his side achieve a 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
Also, Mauricio Pochettino’s new side Southampton held Everton to a 0-0 draw and
Arsenal rebounded from their loss against Chelsea with a 5-1 win against West
Ham.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this
week’s mid-week fixtures include, Aston Villa vs Newcastle on Tuesday and
Arsenal vs Liverpool, Everton vs West Brom and Fulham vs West Ham on Wednesday.
Here are my predictions for this week (All kick-offs are at 7:45pm unless
stated).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle <br />
QPR 1-3 Man City<br />
Stoke 2-1 Wigan<br />
Sunderland 0-2 Swansea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool<br />
Everton 2-2 West Brom<br />
Norwich 0-2 Tottenham<br />
Fulham 2-1 West Ham (K.O. 8pm) <br />
Man Utd 4-1 Southampton (K.O. 8pm) <br />
Reading 2-3 Chelsea (K.O. 8pm)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-53540184668516984982013-01-25T13:19:00.000+00:002013-01-25T13:19:13.659+00:00Superbowl XLVII Preview - 3rd February 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VAigItvcv-5LO0NwDwHfu61DD8cgn-w6mI_UK2axwoePAUZK31HbXR5GOypFEZGPCBCR70V4onBXxRbabFf1_Es7QXgpZwaDiSvOmQ1DxJ1mZPb5Qo3OiWRpjjRJawSiGFVYhTalJwhX/s1600/0ap1000000129003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VAigItvcv-5LO0NwDwHfu61DD8cgn-w6mI_UK2axwoePAUZK31HbXR5GOypFEZGPCBCR70V4onBXxRbabFf1_Es7QXgpZwaDiSvOmQ1DxJ1mZPb5Qo3OiWRpjjRJawSiGFVYhTalJwhX/s400/0ap1000000129003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally,
it is here once again. The Superbowl! This time, it takes place in the
Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, and the teams are the Baltimore Ravens
and the San Francisco 49ers. Here’s my preview of the big game. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Superbowl
Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco 49ers – <b>Ravens win<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the first time in a Superbowl, two head coaches, that
are also brothers, will go against each other. Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers and
John Harbaugh of the Ravens will go against each other for the first time since
the 2011 Thanksgiving game, which the Ravens won 16-6. I’ve got a feeling the
Superbowl will create a similar result.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If it does, what a way it would be for Ravens OLB Ray Lewis
to retire. He’s already got a Superbowl ring from back when the Ravens won it
in their first and only trip to the Superbowl in the 2000 season. This however,
will be his last game ever and to go out with another Superbowl ring on his
finger is the script of a Hollywood movie. This possibility will drive the rest
of the Ravens squad to help him achieve it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsXmQWhW9dEUVA3aGd7y8DveTbwec-4t8IGwrnhPV5gf2eQ1sz6nIhDOXRq31Fi9SKL35LShgahf7V9OySHy_nfn-XR-urDhpd1O_1rLV2IZnJsJ9v-i-JTROsRuT48FQ8rwkC8JgolaT/s1600/nfl_g_lewis12_576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsXmQWhW9dEUVA3aGd7y8DveTbwec-4t8IGwrnhPV5gf2eQ1sz6nIhDOXRq31Fi9SKL35LShgahf7V9OySHy_nfn-XR-urDhpd1O_1rLV2IZnJsJ9v-i-JTROsRuT48FQ8rwkC8JgolaT/s320/nfl_g_lewis12_576.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ravens OLB Ray Lewis - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doug Pensinger/Getty Image</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">However, the 49ers have a 100% record in the Superbowl,
winning five out of the five times they have been there. Their last Superbowl
win though was back in the 1994 season, when NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young was
QB. If they win their sixth Superbowl title, they’ll match the Pittsburgh
Steelers with the most ever Superbowl wins.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One man who will want to win the Superbowl more than ever,
is Ravens QB Joe Flacco. He can prove to his critics that he should be in the
class of elite QBs with a win on the big stage on Superbowl Sunday. He will be
hoping he can add more touchdowns to the eight he has already earned in his
last three playoff games, therefore WRs Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith need to
be on form. RB Ray Rice will also need to be on form too, to make sure the
offense line stays aggressive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi_q8a4iCocQn9kwR3KO36joNpewGqsoG4Z5FK5UmpSjUpdq6AnWcUINJHM4VpkDmKS_nQ0OaGIDI3Q9st15Wg9QLb4Csu_eCgAoRbHEYl7rzYZGLJYNfWGffsIzfZWwRngXN4xvoemh0/s1600/AP+Photo-Charles+Krupa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi_q8a4iCocQn9kwR3KO36joNpewGqsoG4Z5FK5UmpSjUpdq6AnWcUINJHM4VpkDmKS_nQ0OaGIDI3Q9st15Wg9QLb4Csu_eCgAoRbHEYl7rzYZGLJYNfWGffsIzfZWwRngXN4xvoemh0/s320/AP+Photo-Charles+Krupa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ravens QB Joe Flacco celebrating </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- AP Photo-Charles Krupa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The 49ers defense trio of Patrick Willis, NaVarro Bowman and
Aldon Smith will do everything they can to stop Flacco from releasing the ball.
If Flacco manages to get the ball off though, the 49ers secondary including CB
Tarell Brown, DB Chris Culliver and FS Dashon Goldson will be the last line of
defense to stop the Ravens getting any 21 unanswered points like they did
against the New England Patriots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOITN8Og1ie3pLJzRqKUE2UY6IH-NKbbI1RqfWqgYP0XrvHPjva6iH484iN9qhdiOWLkPUqdoaXvqRgERGo7toc6ZAmcq3h0nuDqBvs1rqChCFknz1MV1c3FgYjMNzTg2s0GNUx2R81dR/s1600/Kevin+C.+Cox-Getty+Images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOITN8Og1ie3pLJzRqKUE2UY6IH-NKbbI1RqfWqgYP0XrvHPjva6iH484iN9qhdiOWLkPUqdoaXvqRgERGo7toc6ZAmcq3h0nuDqBvs1rqChCFknz1MV1c3FgYjMNzTg2s0GNUx2R81dR/s320/Kevin+C.+Cox-Getty+Images.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">49ers ILB Patrick Willis </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(no. 52)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Kevin C. Cox-Getty Images</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">On the offense side for the 49ers is QB Colin Kaepernick.
The 2</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> year QB has been fantastic since taking over QB Alex Smith
as starter earlier this season. Expect him to use the option plays which came
alive against the Packers earlier in the playoffs being used once again. RB
Frank Gore, WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis will be helping him out, as
the 49ers will want to catch out the Ravens defense anyway possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgjEw7d7kw1-6Ht381F0TusOV_SzDNSTy2T9kM2CfB4n-h4rx-Iemwgv27k7ukq0O3HD9JjU_fENi2nxjqInyW6UHu1nUeCPp793sfC21skhrEOEBQAqclSeltrYZTgz09E5RVUUyh11W/s1600/Kaepernick+vs+Falcons+-+Kevin+C.+Cox-Getty+Images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgjEw7d7kw1-6Ht381F0TusOV_SzDNSTy2T9kM2CfB4n-h4rx-Iemwgv27k7ukq0O3HD9JjU_fENi2nxjqInyW6UHu1nUeCPp793sfC21skhrEOEBQAqclSeltrYZTgz09E5RVUUyh11W/s320/Kaepernick+vs+Falcons+-+Kevin+C.+Cox-Getty+Images.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">49ers QB Colin Kaepernick (no. 7)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Kevin C. Cox-Getty Images</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">In Kaepernick’s and the 49ers way though, is a Ravens
defense that wants to give Lewis the best sending off for retirement ever. FS
Ed Reed and CBs Cary Williams and Corey Graham will be hoping to stop anything
coming into the secondary. Hoping to stop the ball from ever reaching the
secondary are Lewis, ILB Dannell Ellerbe and OLB Terrell Suggs. Collectively
the whole Ravens defense will want to repeat a similar performance like they
did against the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKR4oUG3u1BW94DqtrCkKMh5AvT5jmw5Ursef-ZDNR4Jc91OQcTGR_6kxD6Vmhyphenhyphen0EmiE-z_a3uX-ZywF3vQD4ti6sKtgZ2bA8xxrMVb4JcXJH6YECMjYY4vL84VKi4w-PDTzk8frbNVUX/s1600/baltimore-ravens-new-england-patriots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKR4oUG3u1BW94DqtrCkKMh5AvT5jmw5Ursef-ZDNR4Jc91OQcTGR_6kxD6Vmhyphenhyphen0EmiE-z_a3uX-ZywF3vQD4ti6sKtgZ2bA8xxrMVb4JcXJH6YECMjYY4vL84VKi4w-PDTzk8frbNVUX/s320/baltimore-ravens-new-england-patriots.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AFC Champions: Baltimore Ravens</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Four out of the last five Superbowls have been won by six
points or less (only exception is Superbowl XLIV where the New Orleans Saints
defeated the Indianapolis Colts by 14 points), so expect another tight and
exciting game.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is also the first time since Superbowl XXXVII that a
Manning, Brady or Roethlisberger hasn’t featured in the Superbowl, showing
the rise of a new era of QBs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My
score-line prediction:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baltimore
Ravens 28-21 San Francisco 49ers<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
The Superbowl will kick off
at 6:30pm ET (11:30pm GMT) on 3<sup>rd</sup> February. Alicia Keys will be
singing the national anthem and Beyoncé will be performing in the Pepsi
Superbowl Half time show. Watch out for the Superbowl commercials too.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-19187675609244394262013-01-24T11:12:00.001+00:002013-01-24T11:12:50.933+00:00FA Cup Round 4 Predictions - 25/26/27th January 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KG_Gg7T_NBeOv-U2bPUjDnx_-g-X-olV5gpEg9pmRlDWWdNGjrr3DXkAb4jqomtA7ZLp5GBpVxKyxsB4lYqhFqIBB17DbWDK_oupcmZypT4w9x4YMr9-jz7xBVXfRURWwrryZEz2ZQrL/s1600/fa-cup-trophy-600x337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KG_Gg7T_NBeOv-U2bPUjDnx_-g-X-olV5gpEg9pmRlDWWdNGjrr3DXkAb4jqomtA7ZLp5GBpVxKyxsB4lYqhFqIBB17DbWDK_oupcmZypT4w9x4YMr9-jz7xBVXfRURWwrryZEz2ZQrL/s400/fa-cup-trophy-600x337.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The FA
Cup is back this weekend with some exciting ties including Millwall vs Aston
Villa, Stoke vs Man City, Man Utd vs Fulham, Brighton vs Arsenal, Leeds vs
Tottenham and Oldham vs Liverpool. Here are my predictions. (All kick-offs are
at 3pm unless stated)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Millwall 2-1 Aston Villa (K.O. 7:45pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stoke 1-3 Man City (K.O. 12:45pm)<br />
Bolton 1-4 Everton<br />
Brighton 1-2 Arsenal<br />
Derby 1-1 Blackburn<br />
Huddersfield 0-3 Leicester<br />
Hull 1-1 Barnsley<br />
Macclesfield 2-1 Wigan<br />
Middlesbrough 3-0 Aldershot<br />
Norwich 1-1 Luton<br />
QPR 3-1 MK Dons<br />
Reading 3-2 Sheff Utd<br />
Man Utd 3-1 Fulham (K.O. 5:30pm)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
Brentford 0-4 Chelsea (K.O.
12pm) <br />
Leeds 1-2 Tottenham (K.O. 2pm) <br />
Oldham 0-2 Liverpool (K.O. 4pm)</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-1801294890744610052013-01-23T23:22:00.001+00:002013-01-23T23:22:07.875+00:00Swansea 0-0 Chelsea - Capital One Cup Semi Final Second Leg - Match Report<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkCVpmQ36vO8jq0LHMPK9qRqQTfPgoa3UtXwwHsnauejf8mOIvLHTyxtve-shalfTIud2ZmMGJeQczW9ff4E7jgoRKBaMIQtYDSZeUp98Dbgf_KM8gDMkZEUyWPcoAR2JO_3VwB8z0NFT/s1600/Michael+Steele-Getty+Images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkCVpmQ36vO8jq0LHMPK9qRqQTfPgoa3UtXwwHsnauejf8mOIvLHTyxtve-shalfTIud2ZmMGJeQczW9ff4E7jgoRKBaMIQtYDSZeUp98Dbgf_KM8gDMkZEUyWPcoAR2JO_3VwB8z0NFT/s400/Michael+Steele-Getty+Images.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michael Steele-Getty Images</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Swansea
will join Bradford City in the Capital One Cup Final after holding Chelsea to a
0-0 draw at the Liberty Stadium, defeating them 2-0 on aggregate, but the game
will be overshadowed by Hazard's sending off for kicking a ball boy. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Swansea came into this tie with a two goal advantage, after
winning 2-0 in the semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge two weeks
ago, thanks to goals by Michu and Danny Graham.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Swansea also haven't lost at home in the last five games in all
competitions, winning two and drawing three including draws against Arsenal and
Manchester United.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Under Rafa Benitez though, Chelsea have won six out of seven
away games, with 17 goals in their last five away games in all competitions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not far into the game, the first penalty appeal occurred.
Chelsea’s Demba Ba went down inside the box after a challenge by Swansea’s Ben
Davies but a penalty was not given.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first chance of the game came moments later, after Swansea
went on the counter-attack after a Chelsea corner. Swansea’s Wayne Routledge
shot was tipped away by Chelsea’s Petr Cech.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Routledge was involved in Swansea’s next opportunity at goal, as
his good ball to Michu allowed him to shoot across goal but it was saved by
Cech.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then it was Michu’s turn to set up a chance, as his header from
an Angel Rangel long ball, gave Jonathan De Guzman a chance at goal, but it was
blocked by Chelsea’s Gary Cahill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea finally got their first quality chance, when a Cahill
header was goal-bound, only to be cleared off the line by Rangel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the clearance, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard had a shot but it was
saved by Swansea’s Gerhard Tremmel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oscar then had an opportunity to give Chelsea a goal, but once
again Tremmel was on top as he was able to cover the ball before Oscar got a
shot away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ba had a chance just before half time from inside the box, but
unfortunately his shot went over the crossbar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second half commenced the same way the first end with another
Demba Ba shot from the edge of the area, but it went wide of the post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A quick flick by Mata on a free kick gave Lampard and Chelsea
another stab at goal, but Lampard’s shot from about 30 yards out flew over the
crossbar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mata then had a chance of his own as he had a shot from outside
the area that was travelling towards the left corner of the net, but Tremmel
was able to stop it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although Chelsea dominated possession for most of the second
half, they were unable to break the deadlock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Swansea came close to breaking the deadlock near the end of the
game, when Nathan Dyer had two opportunities to score in added time. However,
these shots where both cleared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately though, the game will be overshadowed by an
incident that happened ten minutes before the end of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea’s Eden Hazard was sent off for violent conduct after he
kicked a ball boy. Hazard felt the ball boy was wasting time by not giving the
ball immediately to Tremmel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It appears that Hazard kicks the ball boy in the ribs and then
takes the ball away from him, which infuriates the players and fans that saw
the incident. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Referee Chris Foy made the right decision by sending Hazard off
for violent conduct, leaving Chelsea to play with ten men for the remainder of
the game.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B3-ILrply3fz2n4R5JJAlRkHnwxE6flY2sIIEScJmOQJb_JFtw5bciNRoKMuP_oL93lReoXjbN6qDAwlf7lzdMxKFD6tEF6XrW2GjRsg2poerGaKElOiYq0NITkvVjepC96R8Utxps7F/s1600/Andrew+Yates-AFP-Getty+Images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B3-ILrply3fz2n4R5JJAlRkHnwxE6flY2sIIEScJmOQJb_JFtw5bciNRoKMuP_oL93lReoXjbN6qDAwlf7lzdMxKFD6tEF6XrW2GjRsg2poerGaKElOiYq0NITkvVjepC96R8Utxps7F/s320/Andrew+Yates-AFP-Getty+Images.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard being sent off <br />(Andrew Yates-AFP-Getty Images)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The game ended 0-0, with Swansea winning 2-0 on aggregate,
meaning they will advance to play Bradford City at Wembley in the Capital One
Cup Final on Sunday 24<sup>th</sup> February.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Line Ups<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Swansea – </b>Tremmel,
Chico, Williams, Rangel, Davies, Britton, Michu, Pablo, Routledge (Dyer - 65’),
De Guzman, Ki Sung-Yeung <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unused Subs – Vorm, Monk, Tiendalli, Graham, Lamah, Shechter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Chelsea – </b>Cech,
Ivanovic (David Luiz - 68’), Cole (Bertrand - 86’), Cahill, Azpilicueta,
Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Oscar (Torres - 81’), Hazard (sent off – 80’) Ba <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unused Subs – Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Marin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Referee – </b>Chris Foy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man of the
Match – Ashley Williams</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></div>
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683582162082555907.post-30378504696290409492013-01-21T03:22:00.001+00:002013-01-21T22:18:25.284+00:00Baltimore Ravens 28-13 New England Patriots - Match Report<br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi_q8a4iCocQn9kwR3KO36joNpewGqsoG4Z5FK5UmpSjUpdq6AnWcUINJHM4VpkDmKS_nQ0OaGIDI3Q9st15Wg9QLb4Csu_eCgAoRbHEYl7rzYZGLJYNfWGffsIzfZWwRngXN4xvoemh0/s1600/AP+Photo-Charles+Krupa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi_q8a4iCocQn9kwR3KO36joNpewGqsoG4Z5FK5UmpSjUpdq6AnWcUINJHM4VpkDmKS_nQ0OaGIDI3Q9st15Wg9QLb4Csu_eCgAoRbHEYl7rzYZGLJYNfWGffsIzfZWwRngXN4xvoemh0/s320/AP+Photo-Charles+Krupa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AP Photo-Charles Krupa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Joe Flacco and the Baltimore
Ravens put Ray Lewis' retirement on hold as they earn themselves a place in the
Superbowl, after a second half comeback of 21 unanswered points gives them a
win against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game at the
Gillette Stadium.</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ravens won the coin toss, but
they decided to allow the Patriots to receive the ball first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As this game is Patriots QB Tom
Brady 24th postseason start, he now ties Brett Favre for the most post season
starts ever by a QB.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The game got off to a slow start
though, as both teams had to eventually punt on their first possessions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't till the Patriots second
possession did we see the first points being scored, as the Patriots had to
settle for a 31 yard field goal by K Stephen Gostkowski.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was during this drive though,
that Brady broke an NFL postseason passing yards record, surpassing Denver
Broncos QB Peyton Manning for the 3rd all-time passing yards in a post season
record.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three drives later, the Ravens
punted the ball back to the Patriots, which WR and return specialist Wes Welker
returned the ball for 28 yards, giving his team good field position on their
own 47 yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, they were unable to
capitalize on this good field position as the Ravens defense forced them three
and out. During this drive by the Patriots though, Ravens DE Paul Kruger had a
chance to earn an interception, but he was unable to haul the ball in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, the Ravens received
the ball back and on the ninth play of their drive, their QB Joe Flacco threw a
deep left pass to WR Torrey Smith for 25 yards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Four plays later, the Ravens had
their first points on the board as their RB Ray Rice earned a two yard
touchdown run, the first touchdown of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the next Patriots possession,
they travelled 80 yards in 11 plays, topping it off with a one yard touchdown
pass from Brady to Welker, giving the Patriots the lead again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first sack occurred on the
next Ravens possession, as Flacco was sacked by Patriots DE Rob Ninkovich,
causing the Ravens to punt the ball as they went three and out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Patriots took advantage of
this by adding another three points to the board just as time expired in the
first half. The points came through a 25 yard field goal by Gostkowski.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This made the half time score 7-13
to the Patriots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ravens received the ball at
the start of the second half and on the third play of their drive, Flacco
passed the ball deep left to WR Anquan Boldin for 26 yards to the Patriots 48
yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite this big play, they were unable
to benefit any further, as they were forced to punt three plays later. They did
however force the Patriots start with the ball from their own nine yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brady produced a big play of his
own on the fourth play on the Patriots next drive with a 24 yard pass to
Welker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A penalty was caused by Ravens SS
Bernard Polland according to the referees, which added another 15 yards to the
Patriots drive, allowing the Patriots to start their next play on the Ravens 36
yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, a drop by Welker on the
seventh play of the drive caused the Patriots to punt the ball back to the
Ravens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the tenth play of the Ravens
next drive, Flacco passed the ball to TE Dennis Pitta for a five yard
touchdown, giving the Ravens a one point lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Patriots were then forced
three and out, making them punt the ball back to the Ravens. On the tenth play
of the Ravens drive at the start of the fourth quarter, Boldin added another
touchdown to the Ravens score through a 3 yard pass down the middle by Flacco.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Patriots got the ball back on the
next kick-off and on their fourth play, WR Brandon Lloyd performed a good spin
move to the right, to get away from Ravens defenders and run out of bounds at
the Patriots 39 yard line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the next play, the first
turnover of the game occurred as Patriots RB Stevan Ridley fumbled the ball and
it was recovered by Ravens DE Arthur Jones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to this turnover, the
Ravens asserted their authority on the game four plays into their drive, with an
11 yard pass to Boldin for a touchdown, giving the Ravens a two possession
lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Patriots were forced to turn
the ball over again on the tenth play of their next drive as Brady was unable
to complete a pass to WR Deion Branch on fourth down, causing the second
turnover of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Patriots defense redeemed the
Patriots offense mistakes by forcing the Ravens three and out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It looked like the Patriots would
profit from this as Brady managed to connect with Welker for a 36 yard pass.
After this though on their next play, Brady's pass for TE Aaron Hernandez was
tipped by Ravens DE Pernell McPhee and intercepted by ILB Dannell Ellerbe, the
third turnover of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nine plays later and the Ravens
were forced to punt the ball back to the Patriots, but they managed to run down
the clock by just under five minutes, just before the two minute warning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the two minute warning and
on the ninth play of the Patriots drive, a pass by Brady intended for Lloyd was
intercepted by Ravens CB Carey Williams in the end zone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This made the final score 28-13 to
the Ravens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only does this win mean the
Ravens are the AFC Champions, but it also means they will be going to the
Superbowl, to play against the San Francisco 49ers on 3rd February at the
Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This game will also be the first
time that two head coaches that are brothers, Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers and
John Harbaugh of the Ravens, have gone against each other in the
Superbowl.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twitter - @ConorJPorter</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0