Festive Period Telltale for Titles by Justin Beckett Staff Writer
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December 27 ° 2007 ellowcard Y Festive period telltale for titles By Justin Beckett Staff Writer Unlike most of their Euro- pean counterparts, the teams in the Premier League have avoided the large meals and larger festivities. With most teams playing between around five games in a little over two weeks, a good deal of silverware could soon be decided. Manchester United kicked off the festive period by retaking the top of the table by one point over trailers Arsenal while Chlesea also fell further behind. Meanwhile, the third round of the FA cup kicks off a few days after the new Inside today: year with teams seeing the EPL title slipping away surely Beckham to train eager to cement their place with Arsenal in the competition. Two sides will be afforded Osorio intro’d as even more work thereafter as Everton travel to Stamford Red Bulls coach Bridge for their Carling Cup semifinal against Chelsea. Preview of UCL With the African Cup of knockout stages Nations set to strip many teams, including Chelsea of top players, the deepest squads, United and Liver- pool, could be the favorites when the ice begins to thaw. Certainly, Red Devils would be more than happy to extend their current advan- tage before things get serious in Europe in February. Football Association Yellowcard ° December 27 ° 2007 Respect Chelsea lose skipper for 6 weeks starts ESPN Soccernet top. Chelsea skipper John Last time around, Terry will be out until Chelsea must get by without John Ter- it was subsequent at least February, just with after the start of the ry over the Christmas and new year pro- champions Man- knockout stages of gramme for the second successive season chester Unit- the Champions after their captain was yesterday ruled out ed who led sec- League. AP players for a ‘‘minimum’’ of six weeks. ond-placed Chel- photo Terry, who was missing over a similar sea both before and So, period last season because of a back prob- after Terry’s mid-sea- Ports- lem which required surgery, was diag- son injury. mouth’s As Chelsea prepare veteran nosed almost exactly a year later with three broken bones in his foot. for a series of fixtures in defend- which they ought to be able er Sol Chelsea lost only at Liverpool in Terry’s absence last time but were held to league to prosper even without Ter- Camp- ry, the England defender’s bell is Justin Beckett draws by Reading, Fulham and Aston Villa over Christmas. availability for his coun- tired Editor’s Corner try’s first match under The Blues must nonetheless be hoping Arsenal could not get by a resilient Pompey at Fratton Park. Getty Images photo of the new coach Fabio Capello they can fare better without their captain beratement players receive — against Switzerland on 12 months on — having heard from club Premier League Roundup from host fans. February 6 — becomes doctor Bryan English that, like last time, Now, I’m all for leaving another imponderable. racial and sexual banters out Terry may not be available again until Feb- Medical updates will Portsmouth ground Gunners of songs and chants, especially ruary. therefore doubtless be when they are directed at spe- ‘‘We will continue to assess John over sought on a daily cific players, but Sol has been By Justin Beckett Steven Gerrard came to the thrashing at the Stadium of Light. the next couple of days, but I would imag- basis. around long enough to know Staff Writer Scouser’s rescue in the 90 min- Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha ine he will be out for a minimum of six better than this; but maybe it ute as Liverpool escaped with 3 (2) and Christiano Ronaldo would weeks,’’ English told Chelsea TV. comes from playing under the Terry was injured in a challenge with Portsmouth kept Arsenal points in a 2-1 win over lowly also find the back of the net. always vocal Harry Redknapp. on the back foot for much of Derby County. New Birmingham manager Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue in Sunday’s 1-0 General harassment is apart Premier League defeat at the Emirates Sta- the night and earned a well- Phil Neville and Tim Cahill Alex McLeish was extatic after a of all sports, ranging from foot- deserved point at Fratton Partk. continued to place themselves Stewart Downing own goal com- dium, which left them third in the table ball, to American college bas- and six points adrift of the Gunners at the Zat Knight, Ricado Carvahlo among the Premier League’s elite bined with efforts from Mikael ketball, to even the cricket and Ashley Cole were all sent off as each scored in Everton’s 2-0 Forssell and a Gary McSheffrey pitch. It is the fan’s both priv- with straight red cards as Aston win over Bolton. penalty for a 3-0 win over strug- iledge and responsibility to Villa pushed Chelsea to its limits Nolberto Solano gave West Ham. gling Middlesbrough. (by non-threatening means) ina 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge. hopes of a victory only for Dave Kit- Steve Bruce’s success at Wigan unnerve their side’s opponents. Evans’ Ipswich Robbie Keane and Tom Hud- son of Reading to equalize on the continued as a goal by Ryan Tay- Yes, when things turn vio- dlestone each netted a pair as Tot- hour mark, leading to a 1-1 draw. lor in the 65th minute saw his lent, as they seem to every sin- temham forcefully saw off Ful- Manchester United put former side pick up a home win over gle time Manchester United Town takeover ham 5-1 and moved away from skipper Roy Keane’s Sunderland to Newcastle and move out of the arrive in Rome, that’s not only the danger zone. the sword in a comprehensive 4-0 bottom three. inappropriate, but reviling. But original songs directed at a approved rival club are as much apart of football as the pitch or the net. ESPN Soccernet success,’ he Premier League Table Refs: No clampdown Then there’s the issue of told support- Team PD W D L PT respect that both Campbell Media entrepreneur Mar- ers. Man Utd. 19 14 3 2 45 on two-footed tackles and Redknapp have consis- cus Evans’ takeover of Ips- ‘‘We are Arsenal 19 13 5 1 44 tently touched on this year. wich received the go-ahead delighted to Chelsea 19 11 5 3 38 ESPN Soccernet discussed at the regular pre-sea- But respect, or the lack there at an emergency general have Marcus Liverpool 18 10 6 2 36 son meetings the PGMO hold of, also begins on the pitch. meeting. Evans’ tremendous support Man City 18 10 4 4 34 Referees chiefs have denied with managers and players. When half of the Chel- More than 400 fans were behind us — and I want to sea roster surrounds a referee Everton 19 10 3 6 33 officials have been ordered to ‘‘They were reminded of the in attendance at Ipswich’s publicly thank him for his evertime a whistle is blown, Portsmouth 19 8 7 4 31 clamp down on the two-footed key point surrounding the exces- Corn Exchange as an over- belief in, and commitment that’s also inappropriate. Aston Villa 19 8 6 5 30 tackle but are merely enforcing to, Ipswich Town Football sive use of force in the tackle. When players can throw whelming 98.4% major- West Ham 18 7 5 6 26 existing policy. Club. ‘‘A player who jumps into a temper tantrums whenever ity voted to accept Evans’ Blackburn 18 7 5 6 26 The two-footed tackle has tackle two-footed is not in con- they may be shown a card, or 87.5% purchase of the ‘‘This deal is indicative of Newcastle 19 7 5 7 26 been under the spotlight recent- trol of himself and therefore if he when EIGHT managers have Championship club. the changing face of foot- Reading 19 6 4 9 22 ly following a spate of red cards, makes contact with the player, quit or been sacked before Jan- Ipswich’s official website ball now, with clubs needing Spurs 19 5 6 8 21 including Boxing Day dismissals ball and player, or if the referee uary for a lack of results, that www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk investment to try to compete Birmingham 19 5 3 11 18 for Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho on an even footing. determines there to be excessive also shows a lack of respect. quoted chairman David Bolton 19 4 5 10 17 Reading’s Brynjar Gunnarsson. ‘‘We believe Marcus malice in the challenge, he will I’ll end with this: Roy Sheepshanks’ appraisal of Midd’brough 19 4 5 10 17 But the spokesman for the Keane’s very young Sunder- the situation. Evans’ investment provides be dismissed. Wigan 19 4 4 11 16 Professional Game Match Offi- land side are deep in relega- ‘‘Marcus Evans is commit- the best opportunity for this — — — — — — — — — — — — — ‘‘There has been no ‘clamp- cials Board denied there had tion territory. Yet we here no ting serious resources to our football club to move for- Fulham 19 2 8 9 14 been an instruction to be any down’ on the tackle or new complaints from Roy Keane club and taking all the risk ward, return to the Pre- Sunderland 19 3 5 11 14 stricter than they usually are. directive issued - referees are or his players. Maybe that’s in our pursuit of Premier- mier League and stay Derby 19 1 4 14 7 The spokesman said: ‘The issue simply applying the law as it has because respect begins in the ship football and increasing there.’’ of the two-footed challenges was always stood.’’ locker room, not in the stands.