Premier League winners and losers

 Ger McCarthy

WINNERS
Dimitar Berbatov
FORMER Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov reminded his manager of his exceptional talent with a hat-trick in the 5-0 hammering of Wigan. United's fourth choice striker has the languid appearance of a player who couldn't care less but remains a deadly finisher in front of goal and could yet prove pivotal to the Old Trafford club's hopes of retaining the title. Berbatov's goals have been a welcome Christmas present for Alex Ferguson with Wayne Rooney rested and Javier Hernandez still recovering from injury.

Fulham
MARTIN Jol was rewarded for his adventurous and attacking line-up as Fulham fought back from a goal down to earn a merited 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. The Cottagers were under severe pressure in the closing stages but held out for a share of the spoils thanks to the brilliance of goalkeeper David Stockdale and the work-rate of Clint Dempsey, Danny Murphy and Moussa Dembele. Jol's side bounced back from a humiliating 5-0 loss at home to Manchester United only five days earlier and moved five points clear of the relegation zone to put a smile on the Fulham supporters faces heading into the New Year.

Sunderland
MARTIN O'Neill's arrival at the Stadium of Light has resulted in an impressive seven points from a possible twelve for a side previously heading towards the Championship. Sunderland are a more compact unit and difficult to break down since O'Neill assumed command and all signs currently point to the Black Cats avoiding relegation this season. The former Leicester City manager has a proven track-record for getting the best out of his players and the new found spirit engendered in the Sunderland dressing room is being converted into points which has seen the Northern club move four points away from the drop zone.

Mark Bunn
STEVE Kean's decision to select Mark Bunn as Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper for the relegation threatened club's trip to Anfield proved an inspired choice. Bunn pulled off a string of marvellous saves during a wonderful individual display to earn his side a point and ease the pressure on his under-fire manager. In a week Blackburn fans protested outside the club's training facility Bunn's determination motivated his team mates to earn a deserved draw and raise hopes of potentially avoiding the drop. If Steve Kean can get his players to produce similar performances in the second half of the campaign then Blackburn supporter's torrent of abuse should turn into one giant apology for the undignified attacks on the Rovers manager.

Demba Ba
THE Senegalese born striker signed by Newcastle United to replace the departed Geordie favourite Andy Carroll continued his magnificent run of form with a fourteenth Premier League goal of the season away to Bolton. The former West Ham United and TSG Hoffenheim player has proven a revelation since his transfer to St. James' Park and Ba's goals have helped the Magpies keep pace with the top six ranked clubs raising hopes of European qualification before the end of the campaign. The Toon army are set to lose Ba to Senegal and the African Cup of Nations next month and will no doubt miss his ability in front of goal.

LOSERS
Manchester City
THE Premier League leaders' failure to score for the first time this season resulted in Manchester United joining Roberto Mancini's side at the summit of the table. West Brom are a decent side on their home patch but any club harbouring serious title aspirations needs to be capable of picking up three points from their trip to the Hawthorns. It will be fascinating to see how Mancini and City handle the pressure of a title run-in especially with such an experienced Manchester United squad likely to be there every step of the way until the end of the season.

Wigan
CRAZY sending off aside, Wigan offered little if any resistance during their 5-0 hammering at Old Trafford. United began with Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia in their back four yet Wigan rarely worried the home side's makeshift defence. Roberts Martinez talks a good game in his after match interviews but the suave Spaniard's team were simply awful and similar gutless displays will result in certain relegation. Wigan have shown signs of life in recent weeks but their complete lack of ambition at Old Trafford demonstrated a team lacking confidence

Phil Dowd
REFEREE Phil Dowd's decision to send off Wigan's Connor Sammon for an innocuous coming together with Michael Carrick was absolutely ridiculous. The match official was only 35 yards away when Sammon's hand appeared to slap Carrick on the side of the midfielder's head. Dowd issued a straight red card much to the surprise of everyone in the ground even though similar collisions occur every weekend in the Premier League. Dowd's horrendous mistake capped off a poor year for officiating at the highest level and calls for a fourth TV official grow louder with each passing week.

Howard Webb
IF Phil Dowd's red card error during the Manchester United and Wigan encounter was poor then Howard Webb's decision to award Everton a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland was downright hilarious. Replays clearly showed Leon Osman kicked the ground whilst attempting to unleash a shot inside the Sunderland penalty area. Webb thought differently however and immediately pointed to the spot from which Leighton Baines earned Everton a draw. If Webb is classified as the best referee in England then God help English football.

Follow Ger on Twitter: @offcentrecircle

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/KGibLSb1k1U/post.aspx

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Prisoners wow Govt

By Jasmine Netzler-Iose

There is something new and magnificent at the Tafa?igata prison grounds. It?s a church building worth $186,000 that now stands where the old Ole Toefuata?iina church was once located.

Police Commissioner, LilomaiavaFouTaioalo said the effort of prisoners behind the project is ?something that might not be [possible to] do again?.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37337:prisoners-wow-govt&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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New year?s winners and losers

By Ger McCarthy

WINNERS

Sunderland
SOUTH Korean international Ji Dong-won became an instant hero on Wearside when the Sunderland substitute scored the only goal (although clearly offside) in the 1-0 defeat of high flying Manchester City. The Black Cats surprise victory over the Premier League leaders was Martin O’Neill’s tenth point from five league fixtures underlining the new manager’s instant impact at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland’s victory was even more impressive as O’Neill was forced into seven changes in his starting line-up due to a bug sweeping the first team squad. The dark days of Steve Bruce’s tenure have been consigned to the history books as Sunderland continue their climb out of the bottom half of the table.

Blackburn Rovers
STEVE Kean celebrated the New Year in style by overseeing a shock defeat of Manchester United to take Blackburn’s Christmas haul to four points out of a possible six from visits to Old Trafford and Anfield. The Blackburn fans repeatedly calling for Kean’s removal over the past month were applauding their manager’s effort at the end of Rovers’ memorable 3-2 win but the threat of relegation has not disappeared just yet. The most pertinent point from Blackburn’s impressive Christmas form is the increased effort produced by the Ewood Park club’s players on behalf of their beleaguered manager. If Rovers can maintain their current level of performance into Easter and beyond then relegation to the Championship could yet be avoided, something that was unthinkable just a few short weeks ago.

Stephen Ireland
THE former Republic of Ireland international's week began badly with a photo of the Aston Villa midfielder smoking a Shisha pipe appearing on the Internet just 24 hours after limping off against Arsenal. Ireland responded to some sharp criticism from his manager Alex McLeish with one of his best ever displays in an Aston Villa jersey. He opened the scoring and was involved in the two additional Villa goals during an unexpected 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to remind his critics of his indubitable talent. When Stephen Ireland is on form he is as effective as any midfielder in the Premier League. Curbing a chronic lack of consistency is all that prevents Cork native from re-establishing himself as a top class player in 2012.

Ben Watson
RELEGATION threatened Wigan Athletic were 2-1 down away to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium when referee Michael Oliver awarded a controversial penalty with three minutes remaining. Roberto Martinez immediately summoned Ben Watson from the substitute’s bench and just like an NFL (American Football) special team kicker the midfielder trotted on to the pitch and coolly converted the penalty. Martinez’s decision to ask a substitute to come on and take a spot kick was strange enough but even more curious when you consider Watson had missed his previous two attempts from twelve yards. Irrespective of Martinez’s eye-brow raising choice, Watson delivered and earned Wigan a valuable point in the battle to avoid the drop. Martinez might yet be responsible for a new trend of substitute penalty takers in the remaining months of the campaign.

LOSERS

Manchester City
ROBERTO Mancini’s expensively assembled forward line failed to score for the second consecutive Premier League game culminating in a 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland. City couldn’t capitalise on Manchester United and Tottenham’s stumbles the previous afternoon and missed a golden opportunity to extend their advantage at the top of the table. Mancini watched his side create nineteen goal scoring opportunities at the Stadium of Light yet fail to convert one of them into a goal on a frustrating afternoon for the Italian manager and his club’s supporters. Liverpool are up next and City need to prove to their detractors that they can live with the pressure of a title run-in with a much needed victory on Wednesday night.

Manchester United
ALEX Ferguson was expected to hog the weekend’s tabloid headlines on his 70^th birthday until Steve Kean and Blackburn rolled into Old Trafford and recorded a shock 3-2 win. Even Ferguson’s pre-match comments about wishing to stay in charge for another three years were largely ignored as news broke of the apparent reasons behind Wayne Rooney’s omission from the first team squad. Manchester United moved quickly to deny reports that Rooney was dropped for apparently staying out late with his wife Coleen and Jonny Evans, Darren Gibson and their partners on the night United hammered Wigan 5-0. Whatever the reason, unwanted tabloid headlines have come at a difficult time for the reigning champions. Ferguson’s frustration at losing to a side in the relegation places is especially galling for the Scottish manager considering title rivals Man City managed one point from a possible six during the Christmas period. Six points is now a necessity from the upcoming away trip to Newcastle and home fixture with struggling Bolton Wanderers.

Andre Villas-Boas
CHELSEA’S third home defeat of the campaign resulted in manager Andre Villas-Boas admitting a title challenge is unlikely this season. Since beating Manchester City the Pensioners have drawn with Wigan, Tottenham and Fulham before losing to Aston Villa this past weekend. That dreadful run of form has come on the back of rumours of dressing room unrest and unless Chelsea addresses their current issues then finishing outside the top four is a real possibility in 2012. Villas-Boas has successfully led his side to the knockout stages of the Champions League but failure to progress beyond the last sixteen will heap further pressure on the young Portuguese Coach. Roman Abramovich is likely to lose patience with his current coach having gotten rid of previous managers such as Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlo Ancelotti. 

 

Follow Ger on Twitter: @offcentrecircle

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/FAC7yamzuqI/post.aspx

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The Kerry rugby phenomenon that just keeps on growing

Barry Coughlan

ALTHOUGH in many respects, Kerry GAA and rugby could go hand in hand, circumstances have dictated otherwise. Most people would be unaware that Austin Stack Park, the home of Kerry GAA, was originally a rugby ground, and the famous green and gold jersey was originally borrowed from Tralee Rugby club, one of the four oldest clubs in Munster!

But while GAA in the county has driven on and the oval ball game was left to its own devices, the success enjoyed by Munster rugby has contributed to a resurgence in interest and a considerable enhancement of playing resources, particularly at underage level.

Mike Keane, chairman of the Munster Junior Committee, takes pride in the fact there has been such an upsurge of interest, pointing out that new clubs are emerging – Iveragh Eagles (Cahirciveen) and Kenmare, for instance – and all eight clubs now based in Kerry, old and new, have thriving underage sectors.

“That’s all down to the success of the Munster rugby,” he said, “it’s not coming from anywhere else. Kids want to play rugby these days; they see it’s a game to be enjoyed, that there is a place for the likes of Peter Stringer alongside John Hayes who is six foot six. That’s an example and they know there’s a place for them, no matter what size they might be.

“Without the success of Munster it would be extremely difficult because it [rugby] is by far the poor relation in terms of sport down here, so it’s heartening to see it growing.”

With the emphasis on the underage game, Keane is heartened by the emergence of so many good quality players into the representative arena, citing the fact that Tralee had 14 players at various levels, at third level colleges, Munster youths and Munster U19s in the last year, not to mention Danny Barnes’ senior involvement with Munster and JJ Hanrahan’s inclusion in the provincial squad as well as John O’Sullivan’s success with Connacht, Munster and Agen over a decade of achievement in the professional ranks.

Keane isn’t foolish enough to suggest rugby will ever provide a threat to GAA in the county; he believes rugby should know its place but contends it has a place and Munster rugby will prosper as a result.

“The way it’s going now, you’ve got lots and lots of kids who see these senior players as role models, just as older people looked to the likes of Mick Doyle and others. Three years ago, Keith Earls was here on a summer camp because we couldn’t get the mainstream players and within a year he was a super hero, so the posters he signed are now hanging up in a lot of houses all over Kerry.

“Even out in Listowel you have Jonny Sexton who comes to visit his grandparents. He will go out and throw the ball around with the kids and that’s worth a fortune in terms of promoting the game down here.”

But there is a sting in the tale from Keane, and it’s this – he feels the kids of Kerry don’t have adequate access to Munster’s stars.

“It’s great that Danny Barnes and JJ are emerging as key figures for Munster, and they’re going to be readily identifiable to the kids in time to come. Unfortunately, for some reason, we can’t seem to get the mainstream players down here.

“I can walk out these streets any day and I’ll meet Kieran Donaghy, Gooch Cooper or a clatter load of players with All-Ireland senior medals, but we can’t seem to get a senior Munster player, just to come down, be seen around the place, even to get the walking wounded to come down, show their face, meet the kids and give the game a higher profile.

“It’s my view that the big towns and cities [where these players live] won’t produce much more rugby footballers than are being produced as a natural thing; but is the next Mick Galwey in Kerry or is he is west Cork or east Limerick.

“Where’s the next John Hayes or Alan Quinlan going to come from? Not from the cities, it’s going to be from somewhere unexpected.

“We have to tap into the rural areas and the strong holds of the GAA are there to be tapped into. And any young fella who has played GAA in Munster, football or hurling, is a natural with the basic skills required for rugby.”

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/Jl6UugYHyQ4/post.aspx

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Bluesky in the zone

By Niccola Hazelman-Siona

The Y-Not mother ship was alight last night as Bluesky Samoa welcomed Samoa?s time zone change with a massive party. Bluesky Samoa hosted a Time Warp Party at the popular Y-Not Bar at Matautu and it was definitely a sight to behold.

There were aliens and trekkies, men in black and Lady Gaga. Even Rambo made an appearance all to mark the change of date.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37449:bluesky-in-the&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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A first in Cup Qualifying for a player and team

By James Montague

APIA, Samoa (New York Times) ? Jonny Saelua did not always envision herself as an international soccer player. What she really wanted to do was join a dance company and ?travel the world just performing.? ?Anything modern, jazz, maybe a little bit of ballet,? said Saelua, a center back for American Samoa?s men?s team and a performing arts major at the University of Hawaii.

But for now, Saelua is doing her dancing in cleats. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old Saelua played a key role in American Samoa?s 2-1 victory against Tonga in a 2014 World Cup qualifier. It was American Samoa?s first victory in international soccer, ending a 30-game losing streak in which it had been outscored by 229-12.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37125:a-first-in-cup&catid=34:sports&Itemid=54

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Saracens 15-15 Gloucester | Premiership match report

Saracens 15-15 Gloucester

This was what you might describe as "old school". In so many ways Saracens are the market leaders in English rugby but the rather important matter, in a professional sport, of attracting a substantial fanbase continues to trouble them. This was not the kind of match to solve the problem.

Not that it was anyone's fault. Both teams made a decent fist of things under the circumstances but the soaking weather and the demands of a busy festive season ruled out any hopes of "entertainment", as understood by the modern marketing manager. Thus, there was an inevitability about the draw. It means that Saracens, having gained four on Harlequins five days earlier, surrender two points to the runaway leaders in the second instalment of holiday fixtures, leaving the gap at the top at seven.

In the era of the Grand Final, though, such details are of secondary importance and there was an element of jockeying for position on the field here as much as there is among the teams in the table. Gloucester never held the lead at any stage, and Saracens never pulled away ? yet both coaches were perfectly happy afterwards.

"Backing up big occasions like Twickenham [where they beat Harlequins in front of 82,000] five days ago is sometimes difficult," said Mark McCall, Saracens' director of rugby, "but this group is made of special stuff. In games like that, when it's pouring with rain, there are going to be errors."

Saracens may have made more technical ones than their visitors but they are at the top of the English game because they are so smart. Tactically there are few sides to compare with them. Their kicking game caused Gloucester far more problems than vice versa. Gloucester could retort that their set piece was just about superior and of the two young Englishmen at fly-half theirs kicked at goal with slightly greater accuracy.

Freddie Burns showed some nerve to step up and land the match-saving penalty with two minutes to go from a good 40 metres on the angle. None of his six shots at goal was straightforward but he landed five of them, the last two in the final quarter, to draw Gloucester level each time. The economical way in which the home team kept the game in Gloucester territory meant that Owen Farrell, the other young fly-half, was able to miss a couple of penalties he might have expected to land and still keep his team ahead for the most part.

There was not so much as a sniff of a try all afternoon. Both sides suffered disruption on the day. Farrell was supposed to be taking this one easy but, when Charlie Hodgson's wife gave birth in the morning, he was summoned from the bench. Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, meanwhile, was meant to be playing at 12 for Gloucester but a shoulder injury did for him on the day. Even so it was acknowledged by Bryan Redpath, his head coach, that the Samoan's recent tweeting form, abusing Farrell after the game between these two at Kingsholm in October, would have made his appearance a bit more of an event than it should be.

Mike Tindall, another figure hardly free of controversy lately, stepped in and was as manful as ever. Gloucester probably came the closer to scoring a five-pointer and Tindall was involved on both occasions. But his pass at the end of a fine counterattack was intercepted by Farrell to scupper James Simpson-Daniel's chances of finishing it with a try, and later in the first half he fumbled immediately after a Saracens fumble had given Gloucester another rare glimpse of the try-line. But neither side really looked likely to score a try. It was Saracens' greater composure that earned them the edge in this one, with Alex Goode epitomising their excellence as much as anyone. He was immaculate under the high ball and kept everyone guessing whether he was going to run the ball back or ping it into painful areas of the pitch. Whichever he chose he did it well. Full-back is not a problem area for England.

"We were never in front," acknowledged Redpath, "so we can't see it as an opportunity lost. But we stayed in there, made it hard for the opposition and ground out two points away from home. So we'll take it as a positive."

Certainly, it was an improvement on such recent catastrophes as their 40-point hiding at Harlequins in September. There's a whiff of hardness about this Gloucester team now, which once meant this sort of foul day would spell danger for the opposition. Times are different but this was a throwback. No wonder both camps were satisfied with the points.

Saracens Goode; Wyles, Powell, Barritt, Short; Farrell, Stringer (Spencer, 62); Gill (Smit, 54), George (Brits, 67; George 75), Stevens (Nieto, 54), Borthwick (capt), Botha (Kruis, 62), Brown (Melck, 62), Saull, Wray.

Pens Farrell 5.

Gloucester Morgan; Sharples, Trinder, Tindall, Simpson-Daniel; Burns, R Lawson; Wood, S Lawson (Cortese, 76), Harden (Chistolini, 71), Buxton, Hamilton, Strokosch, Qera (Cox, 69) , Narraway (capt).

Pens Burns 5.

Referee S Davey. Attendance 7,555.

• Premiership
• Gloucester
• Saracens
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Michael Aylwin

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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jan/01/saracens-gloucester-premiership-match-report

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