Scott Murray's Blog, page 70
November 12, 2021
The Fiver | One last push for England in their I-dotting and T-crossing exercise
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England play tonight. Did you forget? Don’t beat yourself up, The Fiver did too. But here we all are, nearly midway through what seems like the 103rd international break of the season, and all the soul-crushing tedium will finally bear sweet juicy fruit tonight when England beat Albania at Wembley and effectively secure their qualification for the World Cup next [grits teeth] winter. With a final game in San Marino, the lowest-ranked nation in Europe, to come, England are going to get over the line, right, despite making a bit of a meal of the final stretch with those recent draws against Poland and Hungary? It’s going to catapult The Fiver into a world of high amusement if not. Well, something has to.
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November 6, 2021
Brighton 1-1 Newcastle: Premier League – as it happened
A fair result on balance, though Callum Wilson was denied the opportunity to score a dramatic late winner by Robert Sanchez’s professional foul
2 min: Brighton start the evening with a game of keepball. All very patient.
Eddie Howe finally shows his face, making his way to the directors’ box, led there by Amanda Staveley. The players take the knee, then Brighton kick off.
Continue reading...Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened
Another chastening defeat for United at Old Trafford as crosstown rivals City won more convincingly than their two goals may suggest
City get the 186th Manchester derby underway ... but only after the knee is taken, to more warm applause. A huge roar. They’ll be kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.
Before kick-off, the teams gather around the centre circle to remember the fallen ... and commemorate the recent passing of former United assistant Walter Smith. Both managers lay wreathes pitchside. The Last Post is met with a sustained around of warm, heartfelt applause. RIP.
Continue reading...November 4, 2021
Leicester 1-1 Spartak, Ferencvaros 2-3 Celtic, Spurs 3-2 Vitesse: Euro clockwatch – as it happened
Celtic revived their Europa League campaign in Budapest, while Antonio Conte enjoyed a winning start at Spurs
Steven Gerrard speaks: “I think Niels Frederiksen is in a must-win situation so we expect the best version of Brøndby, the most aggressive version of Brøndby,” the Rangers boss said of his opposite number and his team. “And I think with their support and a full house ... and if [former Liverpool team-mate] Daniel Agger is telling me the truth and it’s one of the best atmospheres in the world, we have to be ready for a real fascinating challenge.”
Rangers team news: There’s just one change to the side that came from behind to wallop Motherwell 6-1 at Fir Park last Sunday. Borna Barisic is in at left-back for Calvin Bassey.
Continue reading...The Fiver | David Moyes and the achievements of the 1,000 Club
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The Fiver has been around for quite a while now. Our quick back-of-a-fag-packet calculations – 52 weeks times five days times say … eh, let’s say 20 years, minus, erm, 300 days to account for bank holidays, illness, roaring hangovers, fake family bereavements to get The Man off our back and the like – has us at 4,900 editions and counting. So we know a thing or two about longevity. Admittedly there may be a flaw in our methodology – we can’t remember a single thing about the period between 2002 and 2007, for example, or 2008 to 2019 – but you get the general gist. We’ve been around. We’ve seen some stuff. Happy 4,901st edition to us!
Continue reading...November 3, 2021
Liverpool 2-0 Atlético Madrid: Champions League – as it happened
Liverpool are assured of winning Group B after an ultimately easy win against Atlético, who had Felipe controversially sent off in the first half
Liverpool take the knee, then Luis Suarez kicks off, to a cacophony of pantomime booing. Atletico launch long. Carrasco is quickly scampering down the left, sent clear by a long diagonal pass from Trippier. Matip holds firm. The ball’s in Alisson’s hands soon enough.
The teams are out! Liverpool in red, Atletico in third-choice blue. One of those Special European Atmospheres at Anfield™ this evening; it’s noisy. A blast of Zadok the Priest, and we’ll be off sooner rather than later!
Continue reading...November 2, 2021
Atalanta 2-2 Manchester United: Champions League – as it happened
United weren’t at their best … but Cristiano Ronaldo certainly was, digging his side out of a hole yet again with another dramatic late goal
19 sec: Ronaldo has a dig from 25 yards. Easy for Musso in the Atalanta goal, but it’s a statement of intent, and a sign that United’s tails are up after last weekend’s fine result at Spurs.
United get the ball rolling ... but only after both teams take the knee. There’s no room for racism.
Continue reading...The Fiver | Have Spurs been reduced to little more than the status of a MacGuffin?
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Antonio Conte has enjoyed consistent success throughout his managerial career, winning the title at his last three clubs, Juventus, Chelsea and Internazionale. All good things must come to an end, though, and on Tuesday he was named as the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Presumably the 52-year-old Spaniard Italian is an ardent believer in the rule of three, or has come to the conclusion that his next championship will be more satisfying in pure narrative terms if the main character suffers a setback and has to overcome severe difficulties along the way. Either way, it’s a clean snap.
October 30, 2021
Tottenham 0-3 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened
United bounced back from that result with a comprehensive victory of their own, as Spurs fans made their displeasure known to both manager and captain
Manchester United get the ball rolling ... but only after everyone takes the knee. Warm applause greets the gesture. There’s no room for racism.
Before the big match, an emotional rendition of the Last Post. Players, managers and fans alike bow their heads in remembrance of the fallen. Rest in peace.
Continue reading...Leicester City 0-2 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened
Arsenal moved up to fifth after two early goals saw off the Foxes
Arsenal get the ball rolling ... but only after the knee is taken. The players clapped for the gesture. Here we go, then.
First up, though, a rendition of the Last Post. A poppy mosaic in the stand. Wreaths laid by both managers in remembrance of the fallen. RIP.
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