Phil Brown and Arsene Wenger: Best Friends Forever!
The end of the year is here and the holiday fixtures are firmly upon us. James T has ably covered this morning’s Liverpool-Pompey handbags, and the rest of the action is coming on hot and sloppy, just like the Spurs Christmas party. Meanwhile, the Club World Cup continues in the balmy climes of Abu Dhabi, with Barcelona facing Estudiantes for the meaningless most important trophy in the world. Today also sees Hull City return to the Emirates Stadium after that whole spitting / non-spitting row. No Cesc Fabregas today, so maybe he’ll pull his puffy coat out of storage.
Meanwhile, there’s a Nor’easter here on the Left Coast, meaning lots of snow just like in jolly ol’ England. So nothing to do but grab a cup of hot cocoa and settle into the couch for more precious, precious footy.
Fixtures and your comments after the hop!
(All times EST)
EPL
———–
7:45 Portsmouth vs Liverpool (ESPN2)
10:00 Manchester City vs Sunderland (FSC)
10:00 Fulham vs Manchester United (Setanta)
10:00 Aston Villa vs Stoke City
10:00 Blackburn Rovers vs Tottenham Hotspur
12:30 Arsenal vs Hull City (FSC)
Club World Cup
———–
8:00 Pohang Steelers vs Atlante
11:00 Estudiantes La Plata vs FC Barcelona
Rest of the World
———–
5:00 Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC (FSC)
9:30 Bayern München vs Hertha BSC (ESPN360.com)
10:00 Cardiff City vs Leicester City
10:00 Norwich City vs Huddersfield Town (Ned’s House)
10:00 Exeter City vs Southend United (Spectator’s House)
10:00 Aberdeen vs Hibernian (ü75′s House)
11:30 Inter Milan vs AS Livorno Calcio (Gol)
12:00 Bologna vs Atalanta Bergamo (ESPN360.com)
12:20 Nottingham Forest vs Preston North End (Setanta)
12:30 VfB Stuttgart vs TSG Hoffenheim
2:00 Sevilla vs Getafe (Gol)
2:45 Fiorentina vs AC Milan (FSC)
3:00 Saint-Etienne vs Olympique Marseille (Setanta)
4:00 Real Madrid vs Real Zaragoza (Gol)
How has Fagan not picked up a card by now?
@phil: Like, say, field hockey? :D
Silvestre at left back is really a step down for us… he gives us none of the speed down the left that even Gibbs was giving us before the injury.
Woo. Ramsey. The one Arsenal player I’ll root for (he’s Welsh).
@spec: I’m amazed that there haven’t been more cards all around. And further amazed that Hunt or Barmby made it through that first half without being sent off. Perhaps that’s why Bennett is being replaced.
Is Bennett coming out? I honestly think that Phil Down ran to the toilet. Heh. But yeah, at least Arsenal are giving as well as they are getting. Second goal seems to have taken some of the sting out of the game.
I honestly think that Phil Down ran to the toilet.
Wuss. I see a perfectly good advertising board right there.
I saw Dowd run off and check the live text, and they were saying Dowd would be coming on the replace Bennett. My feed is gone now, so I’m not sure wht’s going on. Stuck with live text.
Yeah Bennett’s still on. There was a shot of Dowd (not Down) coming out of the tunnel. Honestly though, it looked like he was having a tech issue with his magic microphone.
I think the stock response for all 4th officials when managers whinge at them: “F**k off.”
Phew. Job done.
Diaby on a great pass from Arshavin
Too bad. Bennett should be replaced. He’s coming very close to losing control of this match.
ABOU! and I get at least an assist from the Pixie
Diaby makes it 3-0. Nice give and go with the Magic Pixie.
Mark Hughes’ phone should ring in ~12 minutes.
I want a 5-spot and I want them to find kiddie porn on Phil Brown’s computer after the match. So I’m angry. I’m stuck in the office.
“The more demanding Arsenal fans simply want to win something again.”
Damned demanding fans.
oh, Theo.
Theo Walcott: He’s no Aaron Lennon. :D
yeah, but neither is Aaron
Pshaw.
Italians can’t handle snow… Serie A matches are pretty much all postponed.
I was looking forward to that Fio-Milan one, too. Damn Italians.
Switch on Real Madrid-Zaragoza game 25ish minutes in, and they’re winning 3-0. Alrighty.
Um, holy s**t. Higuain just scored an amazing goal. Brought it down out of the air under pressure, turned and hit a perfect arcing ball over the keep into the far corner of the net. Fantastisch.
F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K
Oh Jens, what hath thou wrought? Another GK pee break.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kz5fZB4vA8