Rob Smyth's Blog, page 9
May 18, 2025
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle: Premier League – as it happened
Declan Rice’s screamer means one point separates Newcastle in third and seventh placed Forest
2 min Newcastle have already beaten Arsenal three times this season: 1-0 in the league at St James’, 2-0 in both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
1 min Newcastle kick off from right to left as we watch. This could be lots of fun.
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May 17, 2025
Crystal Palace stun Manchester City to win FA Cup and first-ever major trophy – as it happened
Eberechi Eze scored a fine winner and Dean Henderson – who might have been sent off earlier – saved a penalty on a famous day for Palace
Oliver Glasner’s pre-match thoughts
It’s a special moment for all of us and we’re really looking forward to the game.
We expect City to have more of the ball, as they do against most teams, especially as they have picked a very attacking line-up. It’s a little bit similar to how Villa played, with lots of attacking players, but that gives you space for transitions. That’s what we need to wait for. We have to be very efficient when we get chances.
Continue reading...May 16, 2025
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened
Marc Cucurella’s second-half goal settled Chelsea nerves as they returned to the top four with victory over the Europa League finalists
“‘We will retain Amorim even if we do not win the Big Vase’ (more alarming when they play Spurs) is not a statement that boosts someone’s confidence, does it?” says Krishnamoorthy V. “What must one old Scot be thinking these days? Should he come back for an encore?”
He’s probably thinking: ‘You think this lot are bad, you should have seen my team in 1989-90.’ I can’t get away from the fact that, had modern values prevailed in the late 1980s, Alex Ferguson would have won precisely no trophies at Manchester United, and he’d probably still be plain old Alex Ferguson. We’ve all gone mad. I went mad in 2006 so I can’t really criticise anyone.
Continue reading...May 13, 2025
Football Daily | The great Carlo Ancelotti rolls on to Brazil with life lessons for us all
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The greatest trick Carlo Ancelotti ever pulled was raising one eyebrow at 45 degrees. Ancelotti’s left eyebrow has become a symbol of his management style: easy-going, slightly rakish, the Jeffrey Lebowski. It’s in total contrast to the hyperactive supercoaches who dream of chalkboards and third-man runs. Even when he’s facing the sack or when his team are losing 5-1 on aggregate, Ancelotti is doubtlessly dreaming of cigars and opera. But Ol’ Man Carlo must know something because he just keeps rolling on. The next stop is Brazil. Well, OK, Europe because that’s where Brazil play most of their games these days, but you get the point: DON CARLO X SELEÇÃO!
Having read Ken Muir’s idea for Newcastle to use a QR code for a logo (yesterday’s Football Daily letters), it strikes me that this is less than an ideal plan, given that their home shirt is already a barcode. What next, using RFID chips implanted into every shirt?” – Nick Jeffery (and 1,056 others).
At least Dave Challinor’s Stockport crew had the chance to recover from the ridiculous decision in their playoff first leg (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs – full email edition). Allow me to present the FAI Cup final from 2003, as Longford Town, leading 1-0, break away following an injury-time corner for St Patrick’s Athletic (about 10 minutes into the linked video). It doesn’t look wrong, but the St Pat’s keeper had gone up for the corner, meaning that the pictured defender is the last man, putting the Longford player a good five yards offside. He went on to score and secure a 2-0 win for Longford. From memory, nobody at all reacted, suggesting that not only the players and staff, but the match officials weren’t fully up on the offside law” – Mike Slattery.
The implication, in Football Daily and elsewhere, that Liverpool fans who booed Trent Alexander Arnold were hypocritical by virtue of the fact they also sing You’ll Never Walk Alone at every opportunity struck me as odd. As far as I recall it’s a song intended to remind someone at their lowest ebb that someone else has their back. I don’t remember the verse that claims this is still the case even if you take advantage of a situation in order to get what you want, while at the same time turning your back on those who nurtured, supported and lavishly rewarded you. Or maybe that’s in Carousel: The Director’s Cut” – Dave Evans.
Re Trent: if you love him, let him go ️️️” – Mark Gillett.
Continue reading...May 11, 2025
Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened
Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes topped and tailed a fraught but deserved victory for Newcastle against 10-man Chelsea
“Was wondering over the week, where I watched my club go out of the Champions League with strength but not quite enough of it, I did wonder... Would Newcastle do well against this PSG team?” writes Kieran McKintosh. “Physical midfields. Lightning-quick forward lines. Towering defenders. PSG have the better goalie, but other than that I did wonder if Newcastle have the tools to give them more of a run for their money.”
They thrashed them last season, didn’t they? A different PSG, I realise, but it supports your argument. I was surprised just how much Arsenal’s fast start unnerved PSG on Wednesday night. That said, I still think they’re the best team in Europe and I wonder whether Inter’s approach might be more effective. If you go after PSG, the chances are you’ll be picked off, what, nine times out of 10?
We have three more games so this won’t define the season, but for sure this is an important game.
We played Everton and Liverpool with the same team as today. They are doing well and it’s good to continue that.
Continue reading...El Clásico, Liverpool v Arsenal and FA Trophy final buildup – as it happened
Previewing the day’s Premier League action and beyond as the season draws to a climax
1983: Aberdeen beat Real Madrid in the Cup Winners’ Cup final
1986: Peter Reid goes awol after FA Cup final misery
1996: Eric Cantona wins the FA Cup final against Liverpool’s Spice Boys
1999: Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink tilts an epic title race Man Utd’s way
2001: Internazionale 0-6 Milan (NFT)
2003: Jesper Gronkjaer changes the face of football history
2013: Wigan stun Man City in the FA Cup final
Arne Slot is planning to turn Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield departure into a positive for Liverpool, the head coach has said. The right-back will leave Merseyside this summer for Real Madrid on a free transfer, meaning the Dutchman will need to find a way of replacing him.
Continue reading...Newcastle v Chelsea and El Clásico headline crucial set of games – matchday live
1983: Aberdeen beat Real Madrid in the Cup Winners’ Cup final
1986: Peter Reid goes awol after FA Cup final misery
1996: Eric Cantona wins the FA Cup final against Liverpool’s Spice Boys
1999: Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink tilts an epic title race Man Utd’s way
2001: Internazionale 0-6 Milan (NFT)
2003: Jesper Gronkjaer changes the face of football history
2013: Wigan stun Man City in the FA Cup final
Arne Slot is planning to turn Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield departure into a positive for Liverpool, the head coach has said. The right-back will leave Merseyside this summer for Real Madrid on a free transfer, meaning the Dutchman will need to find a way of replacing him.
Continue reading...May 10, 2025
WSL season finale Q&A, Premier League, playoffs and more – matchday live, as it happened
Our writers provided all the latest football news as we counted down to Saturday’s football action
On this day in 1995… Nayim.
Sunderland are favourites to meet Sheffield United* at Wembley after a terrific 2-1 win at Coventry last night. Eliezer Mayenda scored a clinical winner in the 88th minute after a bad mistake from Coventry defender Milan van Ewijk.
Continue reading...WSL season reaches finish, Premier League, playoffs and more – matchday live
On this day in 1995… Nayim.
Sunderland are favourites to meet Sheffield United* at Wembley after a terrific 2-1 win at Coventry last night. Eliezer Mayenda scored a clinical winner in the 88th minute after a bad mistake from Coventry defender Milan van Ewijk.
Continue reading...May 7, 2025
Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Arsenal (agg: 3-1): Champions League semi-final, second leg – as it happened
Gianluigi Donnarumma made two awesome saves as PSG withstood an early onslaught to beat Arsenal in a pulsating game
A relaxed Mikel Arteta talks to TNT Sports
It’s our biggest night for a long time. But this isn’t where we want to be – we want to make the final. We are very close. We learned a few things from the first game, about the level of the two teams and the small margins. We have a big conviction that we’re gonna do it tonight.
This is where this club deserves to be. We still have so much to do – so much to win, so much consistency to show – but hopefully we are on the right trajectory.
Continue reading...Rob Smyth's Blog
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