Liverpool 1 – 1 Arsenal

Clashes between title contenders are usually tight, tactical games but this had plenty for the spectator in terms of quality and incident.

Liverpool set their stall out early, biting at the heels of the Arsenal players and denying them the room to play. They did have a scare early on as after 2mins Adebayor marauded through the Liverpool half only to be saved by a last ditch intervention from Carragher, but otherwise the initiative was with the home side early on.

After 5mins Gerrard showed he was in shooting form as he latched onto Finnan’s ball to blast a shot from 20 yards that had Almunia stretching to save. A minute later they had a free kick within shooting range, the ball was rolled to Gerrard who smashed the ball through the wall and past a helpless Almunia to make it one nil.

Liverpool’s ambition seemed to desert them having taken the lead as they dropped off Arsenal inviting the visitors to play in front of them. Arsenal duly obliged and began knocking the ball around with their usual flair.

On 16mins Fabregas played Adebayor into the inside left channel but Reina was quickly out to block the flicked effort from the Togolese forward. A similar ball, 4 minutes later, had Reina in no man’s land as he rushed out only to see a cross whipped in from Clichy go past him. The resulting effort form Eboue was cleared off the line and the keeper’s blushes were spared.

By the quarter-way mark Arsenal were thoroughly on top with the home side resorting to long hoofs up the pitch to relieve the pressure. Even Kolo Toure took advantage of Arsenal’s domination as he surged forward form the back on 24mins. The attempted one-two off Adebayor saw a poor return ball going too close to Reina with the Arsenal centre back through.

Liverpool’s first attack since the goal came on 26mins which saw them earn successive corners. It looked like it was going to be the “Stevie G Show” when the ball came to the Liverpool captain on the edge of the area but his powerful shot forced a great save form Almunia.

The home side kept a less dominant Arsenal at bay for the rest of the half while themselves still being reduced to long balls. The visitors began to look frustrated and it was to be Liverpool who were to come closest to scoring before the break.

Gerrards whipped in free kick on 42mins narrowly missed a host of Liverpool heads as Arsenal’s set piece defending looked ropey. All Arsenal mustered in response was a deflected shot by Adebayor which trickled to Reina.

The beginning of the second half saw Crouch replace a struggling Torres and it wasn’t long before the lanky forward was making an impression. On 51mins he had a great effort from 20yards which required an excellent save from the Arsenal keeper.

Minutes later Arsenal should have equalised. Eboue hit the upright from inside the area with the rebound falling kindly for Fabgregas but the Spaniard unbelievably blazed wide with the goal at his mercy!

Liverpool looked more positive in the second half but still defending stoutly when required. Crouch came close twice before, on 64mins, Gerrard’s free kick into the box saw Arsenal look less than convincing in defending set pieces again with Toure required to clear off the line.

Shortly after that the home side began sitting back again, devoid of ambition but looking comfortable as the pressure from Arsenal wasn’t anything like it was in the first half.

On 75mins Liverpool came close to wrapping up the match but Riise’s volley from the edge of the area was just over.

However Arsenal got what they deserved on 79mins when Hleb played a lovely dinked ball over the top to find the run of Fabregas, beating the offside trap and toe-poking the ball past Reina at his near post.

An end to end finale ensued as both sides looked for a winner. And Arsenal should have had one, as on 86mins Fabregas hit the near post from 25yards out, the ball fell to Bendtner but the Dane lashed his shot high and wide with the goal gaping in front of him.

Liverpool too had their chance, on 89mins, Crouch layed it off to Gerrard inside the box but Gallas slid to block the close range shot.

At the death Toure and Gallas almost combined form a free kick but it wasn’t to be. Honours even in an entertaining match that had both teams playing to their strengths.

Man of the Match: Almunia – made some crucial saves to keep his side in the game

Movie Round-up #4

Crash (2004/ USA)

A well acted and slickly directed drama let down by a script which deals with the racism theme rather heavy-handedly. Some scenes are devoid of subtlety, spoon-feeding the viewer a rather polar and unsophisticated look at racial divisions in LA. The corny ending is also particularly worthy of scorn.

The Descent (2005 / UK)

A top-notch horror that has all its bases covered: climactic scares, jumps, gore – the lot. There is a great sense of tension throughout which comes to the boil in an adrenaline pumping final half hour that marks this apart from many of its contemporaries in the genre.

Flight of the Living Dead (AKA Plane Dead) (2007 / USA)

The uber-cheesy opening scenes that give more than a nod to the disaster films of the 70’s may seem like a pre-cursor for some tongue-in-cheek silliness but I’m afraid this film fails to deliver on both that front and the horror/zombie elements. The zombies are poorly realised “28 Days Later” clones and the scenes involving them are lacking in any imagination or innovation. A dire film with zero merit, to be avoided.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004 / USA)

An average action film which, despite having a lot of the necessary parts in place, is failed by lacklustre execution. A lot better than the dismal first film but still fails to make proper us of the rich source material.

Hard Candy (2005 / USA)

A gripping, tense affair that despite being mostly dialogue driven maintains its pace well largely thanks to the excellent performances from the two leads. The ever swinging morality-pendulum holds the film’s focus until the end but it would be understandable if the unsettling subject matter and claustrophobia is off putting for some.

Everton 1 – 2 Liverpool

It was the usual hell for leather start you’d expect from a Merseyside derby with the tempo ridiculously high. Liverpool started the better and on 2min Gerrard made an ominous run in to the Everton box only to run the ball out of play. 2 minutes later Voronin had a great chance to put the visitors ahead, after a ball over the top found Benayoun to play him in, but shot straight at Howard from 10 yards.

Liverpool dominated early possession but Everton’s scrapping eventually got them back into the game as they began winning free kicks and corners. Indeed the home side were on top with a quarter of the game played as things began to settle down in the middle of the park.

Osman and Lescott were doing well in wide areas for the home side, consistently getting in to dangerous areas. It was Osman who came closest to scoring during this period of pressure when on 29mins he volleyed over after the ball came to him on the edge of the box from a long throw. A moment later Lescott set up Yakubu only for the Nigerian to swing at air from 8 yards out. His strike partner, Anichebe, came close on 32mins with his header just going over from Arteta’s free kick.

The goal came on 37mins after Liverpool failed to clear a corner only for Stubbs to knock it back into the mix fro Hyppia to miscue in to his own net. The half ended with the home team looking comfortable with only a long range effort from Gerrard on 43mins the closest the visitors came to an equaliser.

The second half began with Everton on the front foot again with Liverpool’s forwards not linking up the play at all in the final third. Arteta began to get more involved after an unusually quiet first half for the Spanish playmaker.

Against the run of play Liverpool broke, having cleared a corner, with Gerrard surging into the Everton box only to go down after a clash with Hibbert. A penalty was given and seemingly a yellow card was about to be brandished to the Everton defender until Gerrard’s intervention which bizarrely saw the referee return the card to his pocket only to replace it with a red! Kuyt duly put the penalty away to make it one all on 52mins.

It wasn’t long before Everton were again incensed by dubious refereeing when on 56mins Lescott was wrestled in the Liverpool box but the Everton player obviously lacked the guile of Gerrard to win a penalty. From that incident Liverpool broke with Kuyt down the right and into the box, pulling back for Riise to blast over.

Liverpool were staring to see more of the ball but the home side continued to take the game to the visitors at every opportunity.

The forward on both sides were getting more involved as the game became more stretched. On 59mins Anichebe flicked on for Yakubu but his Overhead kcik lacked the power to trouble Reina.

On the hour there was a scramble in the Everton box following a Liverpool corner. Kuyt’s initial shot was blocked, the ball came to Voronin who saw his strike well saved and the resulting rebound fell to Kuyt who headed over.

Everton fans were again up in arms when on 64mins Kuyt’s two footed, knee-high lunge on Neville only saw yellow.

Yakubu then struck a powerful shot from 25 yards that was just wide of the post on 65mins. That was to be the closest Everton were to come as being down to ten men began to take its toll and the Everton backline got deeper and deeper.

Liverpool began to push for a winner. On 76mins, Voronin drove into the Everton box only to skew a shot well wide with Kuyt open for a tap in. Minutes later Sissoko dragged a shot wide of the near post.

Their best chance came on 81mins when Finnan delivered a great cross to Voronin who headed over from 10 yards.

Everton looked to have weathered the storm and stifled their rivals for the remainder of the match until in the 90^th minute Phil Neville used his arm to block Lucas’ shot on the line after Howard parried straight to the Brazilian youngster.

Kuyt again dispatched the penalty to earn Liverpool the points but the controversy was far from over. In the 93^rd minute Lescott was floored from behind in the box by Carragher in a move akin to a judo throw. Again the referee failed to make the call in favour of the blues in what was to be a red day on Merseyside.

Movie Round up #3

Happiness of the Katakuris (2001/Japan)

As a horror/musical/black comedy it mightn’t be everyone’s cup of tea but the absurdly naive characters amuse more than the lengthy dance sequences grate. It feels a bit long considering its levity and could’ve done with being trimmed to 90mins. Something altogether different if not altogether wonderful.

Evolution (2001/USA)

A sci-fi/comedy in the vein of Men in Black / Ghostbusters which, although lacking the class of either, manages to merge the genres successfully. The often crude and base humour tires at times but overall it’s good silly fun.

Shrek the Third (2007/USA)

The franchise is beginning to look stretched as this fails to repeat the highs of the second film. It’s still entertaining but nowhere near as clever or as witty as the previous instalments. The quality of the cgi is beyond reproach and sets new benchmarks but let’s hope this is the last as I don’t think the premise can withstand further dilution.

The Number 23 (2007/USA)

A psychological thriller which sees Jim Carrey in unfamiliar territory but looking more than capable. It’s a twisty, turny affair which never really has you fully hooked beyond the opening act but manages to keep you interested until the well executed revelations in the final third.

Warsaw

Click to enlarge (500kb photos)


Palace of Culture at night


Miasto Square


Another Square!


Old Town Skyline


Copernicus


Parliament Building....I think!

Reading 1 – 0 Derby County

With both teams’ “against columns” hardly looking flattering it was a game were both sides were looking to keep it tight.

Reading were looking anxious top get off to a good start in the early stages and created a great opening after 3 mins. Doyle and Kitson linked up well to see Hunt come inside from the left to get on the end of a chance he ballooned over. Derby were unable to get any sort of foothold in what was a messy opening period.

On 20mins, Hunt had another chance to open the Reading’s account but glanced his header wide after a perfect cross from Doyle. The home fans started to get behind their team having been noticeably anxious for the first quarter of the game as it became a more evenly contested affair.

It was Doyle who was to have the best chance of the half, on 28mins, only to head over from close range. The visitor’s best effort came soon after, Griffin cutting in from the left to unleash a dangerous looking shot across the face of goal and wide with the keeper beaten.

The most noteworthy incident of the match came after 36mins when a Reading corner failed to be cleared and Murty’s resulting shot was clearly blocked by McEverley’s arm. The only man on the park who failed to notice was the referee however.

The second half was thankfully more entertaining than the first. Reading applied the early pressure but it was Derby who began to look the more likely to break the deadlock. On 50mins Oakely’s half-volley curled just wide of the Reading goal. 6 minutes later another volleyed effort, this time from Pearson, followed from some good work by Mears down the right, but it too was wide of the mark.

Derby’s good spell seemed to stir the home side into life and just after the hour they had the lead, Doyle getting on the end of Murty’s cross to head the ball back across the face of goal and into the bottom corner.

What followed was the most exciting spell of an otherwise lacklustre game. Derby made some positive substitutions bringing on Earnshaw, Barnes and Lewis to bolster the attack and were soon seeing a noticeable improvement. Reading began looking nervous of their slim lead which only spurred the visitors on.

Derby repeatedly looked to spring Earnshaw who injected some much needed pace into the side. It was he who had their best attempt when on 76mins he turned well on the edge of the box only to shoot just wide of the right hand post.

Derby piled men forward in the closing stages with Pearson getting on the edge of a cross only to volley well wide on 84mins.

The home side began to look more comfortable after that as it appeared Derby had run out of steam, Doyle getting a chance on 86mins but shooting straight at Bywater. But the visitors should’ve equalised at the death when, following an incisive move on the left, the ball was swung in for Miller but the Scot badly miscued his header and saw it cleared.

A poor match featuring two sides displaying a lot of effort and hard work but minimal creative ability. Whether that will be enough come the end of the season I can only speculate it will not.

Man of the Match: Graeme Murty – typified Readings work ethic and got involved in most attacks

Premiership Round up #2 - September

There has been a lot of talk this season about the Premiership being comprised of 3 mini-leagues, one vying for the title, another for UEFA cup spots and a third fighting for survival. It’s hard to argue with such reasoning as just 2 months in we can see where the battle-lines have been drawn.

At the top only Arsenal have been convincing with their band of mercurial players on the crest of a wave. Many people had written them off due to a poor last season and the loss of Henry but the attacking talent they have only relies on one of their match winners to be on song to turn any match (which last season none of them, when fit, did). However with waves come troughs as well as crests and I would have to be concerned regarding the mentality of the squad. 2 years ago they looked the best team in Europe by miles and then a strange Gallic complacency took over and they faded badly. Whether this psychological weakness still exists remains to be seen.

Liverpool, and in particular Torres, have impressed but only on occasion with their inconsistency usually blamed on the “squad-rotation” policy of their manager. The “resting” of players so early in a season is indeed questionable but I think there’s more to it than that. The signing of some exciting attacking players was meant to address the overly defensive nature of the team but there still seems to be a dearth of creative players at the club.

Liverpool may have a lack of creativity but the club at the top of the second grouping, their neighbours Everton, have almost none. The fact that such a dour team lie in 5^th at the end of September speaks volumes about the quality of the league.

Other supposed contenders for that position, namely the likes of Aston Villa, West Ham and (oh dear) Spurs, may have more flair and ingenuity but it goes to show that its good old fashioned slog-work that prevails in the, alleged, “Best League in the World”.

The masters of ugly football, Chelsea, have suffered under the weight of the promise of attractive, flowing play as their current position testifies. But all is not lost for the type of play everyone likes to see, Man City and their Brazilian playmaker Elano have been scintillating at times whilst also finding the right balance with the likes of Dunne, Richards and Hamann providing the steel.

At the bottom, Derby find themselves looking as out of place as Sunderland (05/06) and Wolves (03/04) before them. Derby aside, it is the hardest of the 3 “battles” to call as so few points can make such a big difference. The likes of the currently struggling Bolton are easily able to swap places with the on-form and battling Wigan in only a matter of weeks.

I think it goes back to what I was saying in the August round-up - about form being temporary and class being permanent – but in a league so bereft of class it’s hard to know what to expect. Perhaps it is this unpredictability that earns the Premiership it’s plaudits.

Everton 2 – 0 Middlesbrough

Two sides lacking in form met in what on paper should be a home banker.

It was a disjointed start to the game with neither side getting the ball down and playing, Everton in particular guilty of lumping the ball upfield.

The home side had a scare on 5mins when Lee played in Boateng only for him to hit an easy chance, from 10 yards out, wide.

A minute later and there was slack defending at the other end as there was chaos in the Boro box form a corner with the resulting poor clearance finding Lescott free 5 yards out to duly nod home.

The goal failed to settle Everton and Boro continued to apply pressure, O’Neil coming closest on 11mins after a knock down by Mido only for his weak shot to be easily saved.

It took until the 13^th minute for the hoem side to have some meaningful possession as Arteta began to dictate proceeding in the middle of the park.

On 18mins, Everton should have had a second as Baines’ cross found Yakubu unmarked and 6 yards from goal but the 11 million pound striker headed over.

With a quarter of the game gone neither side were looking comfortable in possession as both sets of players were quick to close down.

The crowd were quite subdued and nervous as the home side failed to hold onto the ball and Boro looked to take the initiative.

There was a third missed sitter on 24mins when Lee rose to meet the ball 5 yards from goal only to hit the bar as Boro continued to hold Everton back.

The home side weathered the storm and came back to life on 32mins when Arteta jinked inside the Boro box to unleash a good effort which Schwarzer was equal to.

There was a rare good move, in what was a bitty and tight affair, on 39mins when Pienaar got on the end of a swept in cross from Hibbert only to head over.

Everton eventually got the game by the scruff of the neck late in the half with Pienaar and McFadden coming into it more. Their best effort coming for the talismanic Arteta on 44mins with his powerful shot hit straight at Schwarzer.

The second half continued where the first left off as Everton looked more assured in possession. On 50mins some great link up play saw Pienaar in room on the left only for the South African to hit a poor cross with 4 blue shirts in the box.

Boro were edging back into the match on 53mins when the out-of-his-depth Lee volleyed well wide. Indeed Everton’s second came against the run of play, Arteta and Pienaar linking up well with the Spaniards deft ball across the box steered into the net by the former Ajax man.

The home sides confidence was renewed and they seemed happy to take whatever Boro could throw at them having gone two up. They finally shut up shop on 73mins when they went to a 4-5-1 formation.

It was a comfortable end to the game for Everton and although it wasn;t one for the spectator it was a particularly solid looking defensive display for the closing 10mins, Boro’s only chance a tame Craddock header.

Man of the Match: Mikel Arteta – carried his team for the best part of an hour and always looked positive in possession

Man city 3 -1 Newcastle

At kick off it was 3^rd plays 5^th so a decent match was in prospect and it didn’t fail to entertain.

It was a bright opening period with City shading it but the visitors were having the better chances with both Rozenhal and Viduka on target in the first 10mins.

City’s first chance fell to Elano as he hit an excellent half-volley from outside the penalty area but Given was equal to it and pulled off a superb save to deny the Brazilian.

The home side were slick in possession, passing the ball with skilful assurance. Elano’s vision linking up attacks with the willing runners of Petrov and MPenza.

In contrast, Newcastle were struggling to get a move together, relying on their front three for inspiration.

City were beginning to dictate when Ireland’s cross hit the bar on 25mins but hey were to find themselves behind just 3 minutes later. Geremi knocked a ball over the top which was controlled magnificently by Martins whose controlled finish beat the onrushing Hart in the City goal.

Things almost got worse for the City keeper when on 31mins he miss-controlled a back pass forcing him to a hasty clearance off his goal line.

City were again knocking the ball around well but they seemed to lack the presence up front to get the equaliser they were after. Petrov’s effort on 34mins, following a great through ball, was all they had to show.

But Newcastle’s ridiculously high backline was to offer the home side a chance they didn’t pass up. On 37mins a great move saw Elano put Ireland through into acres of space on the right for the Irishman to play a lovely weighted ball across goal for Petrov to finish.

City finished the half the stronger with Elano again putting Ireland through on goal only for Given to close down his compatriot quickly and block the shot.

The second half had just begun when Newcastle’s high line had them in trouble again. They failed to clear a ball which resulted in Petrov storming down the left to supply the cross for Mpenzas headed finish to make it 2-1 on 46mins.

The game became more end to end after that as Newcastle pushed for the equaliser but it took until the 66^th minute for them to create a clear cut opening which saw Martins smash wide form a tight angle.

The visitors were on top for a period after that with a succession of set pieces keeping City at bay. On 71mins, Geremi saw his free kick abley tipped over by Hart and a minute later their was indecision in the City box as they failed repeatedly to clear from a corner but Newcastle couldn’t capitalise.

City’s passing became sloppy as they looked increasingly nervous. They did manage to spring a break on 79mins after some more jittery defending in the box. Richards and Ireland combining only for the powerful defender to hit a weak shot on goal.

Newcastle went to 4-4-2 but in all honesty never looked like scoring and it as City began to break with more efficiency it was the home side who looked like they might nick another.

On 82mins Petrov made an excellent foray down the left only to see MPenza hit his cross over from 10 yards. The Belgian got another chance a minute later as again City broke but his shot was eventually blocked.

On 86mins Elano made the points safe for City as his bullet of a free kick went straight into the top left hand corner form 25 yards.

It was a well deserved win for the home side as Newcastle looked uninspired and lacking a spark in midfield

Man of the Match: Elano – again City’s best player, at the centre of all their attacks and came up with a fantastic free-kick