Lennon’s First Goal Of The Season Downs Liverpool

Spurs were looking to make three wins in a row in the league for the first time this season as they welcomed a resurgent Liverpool side. Liverpool had improved in the last few weeks but they are far from the side that came second two seasons ago. Inconsistent performances were hurting Liverpool as a victory over Chelsea was quickly followed by defeat to Stoke Redknapp had spent the week talking up his sides chances of winning the Premier League, but his side need to address their leaky defence that has only kept one clean sheet this season.

The Fans arrived at White Hart Lane expecting another feast of stylish attacking football that Spurs were becoming well-known for. First half started with Liverpool the dominant as an in-form Torres was showing some neat play, putting Maxi through on goal twice only for the Argentine to fire wide once  and then straight at  Gomes in the first 20 minutes. Spurs lost Van Der Vaart early on with a hamstring injury, being replaced by Defoe for his first league appearance in two months. Bale was kept quiet by Johnson, but he pulled in-side to gain a free kick after Konchesky brought him down just outside the box. The resulting free kick hit the wall and Liverpool cleared easily. Reina was forced to parry Modric low shot straight to Defoe but Carragher’s heroic block on the line spared Liverpool’s blushes.  Liverpool were ahead in the 42^nd minute when Skrtel’s header from a free kick rebounded off N’Gog with Skrtel then toe-poking the ball home. Liverpool nearly found themselves two up minutes later when Torres found Maxi, but the Argentine delayed his shot and Spurs cleared.

The second half started off again in Liverpool’s favour with Torres nearly through on goal it took a splendid challenge from Bassong to deny him, Bassong had only come on in 35^th minute, replacing Kaboul. Bale had a shot blocked on the line after Lennon’s drive at Reina was pawed into his path. Spurs were awarded a penalty in the 59^th minute after Bales free kick came off N’Gog’s arm, only for Defoe to fire wide. Spurs levelled after Modric majestically drifted past three players before playing the ball to Crouch only for Skrtel to intercept and knock the ball into his own net past the on-rushing Reina. Both sides went for the win, with Kuyt being denied a penalty after Assou-Ekotto’s lunge. Bale’s volley was saved by Reina before Defoe had a goal disallowed after a free kick fell to Lennon who headed the ball on to Defoe who was rightfully ruled offside. Spurs got their luck after Assou-Ekotto’s long ball was nodded on by Crouch for Lennon who sped past Konchesky before prodding the ball past Reina.

Spurs were good value for the win as Liverpool lived dangerously in defence but it could have been so different had Maxi found his shooting boots after Torres played him through on three occasions. Sadly Liverpool were also denied a clear penalty late on but on the balance of play the result was fair

Newcastle Hold On To Deny Chelsea Top Spot

Carlo Ancelotti is under intense pressure at Chelsea. Stories have been circulating for the past few days of Ray Wilkins departure and his launch of legal action against the club for unfair dismissal. Wilkins was a very popular figure at Stamford Bridge, with both players and staff.  This combined with Ancelotti admitting in midweek that he was not in complete control of the club has only increased speculation that he might leave the club in the near future, with the papers mentioning Pep Guardiola as a possible replacement.

Chelsea went in to this game 3 points behind Manchester United after their 7-1 demolition of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. Newcastle have been impressive, if not erratic this season. With a 3-0 loss to United on the opening day of the season to a 6-0 victory of Aston Villa, consistency is what is needed if Newcastle is to survive relegation this season. The same can be said for Chelsea who have lost three of the last four games in the league this season and were desperately hoping not to make three defeats in a row since 1999.

The first half began brightly for Newcastle with a 2^nd minute free kick nearly found the net as Ameobi’s shot flew wide after Taylor’s header was palmed away by Cech into Ameobi’s path. 4 minutes later and the home side had their goal. Mikel lost possession in midfield but Alex recovered only to play a disastrous back-pass to Carroll who prodded the ball past Cech. Chelsea then began to threaten with Drogba forcing a decent save from Krul in the 19^th minute before Kalou equalized after being fed by Malouda, cutting inside and seeing his strike deflect off Taylor and beat Krul.

Chelsea were dominant in possession for much of the second half without really threatening. Newcastle’s only meaningful attacks were coming from set-pieces with Cech looking nervous at coming for high balls. Drogba had a goal disallowed after he handled the ball inside the area before firing the ball in off the post. Chelsea continued to push forward but Newcastle held on to heap further pressure on Ancelotti and his stuttering Chelsea side.

Influences In Purchasing A Laptop

Factors influencing the purchase of a Laptop

There are many things to consider when purchasing a laptop. The weight, size of screen, applications, system power, price and support / warranty.

 

Weight:

Weight plays a big factor in the purchase of laptops as students are expected to travel large distances with these machines on their back. Anything over five kilos is not recommended for anyone doing an extended amount of walking which is about 30 minutes or over without rest. To carry anything over that weight for any length of time can be painful and damaging to your back and posture. There also has to be some weight otherwise it could easily break if dropped. Laptops like MacBook Air are fine to use for essay writing or note taking and general browsing of the Internet. But their size makes them easily broken.

Size of screen:

The size of the laptop has an effect on weight as well. Most laptops come in sizes 13 inch to 15-inch screens. While the 13 inch is generally cheaper it is highly recommended to go for 15 or 17 inch screens if your course has anything to do with Graphics as it is impossible to work on something as detailed as Photoshop without a proper size screen.

Applications:

Students must take into account which applications they will be using during their course before purchasing a laptop. If your course involves a lot of design plus media work an Apple laptop is recommended. If your course involves a lot of note taking, essay writing or Internet browsing then an ordinary laptop is usually recommended. However in recent times Apple laptops are now fully capable of doing all things other laptops can do and have access to many Microsoft applications.

System Power:

It is important to pick a laptop with fairly high specifications, as many applications these days require plenty of power. Ghz of 2.5 to 3 is what I would recommend as it is both powerful and reasonably cheap. A RAM of 2 GB is again recommended so your applications aren’t slow to open up. A Dual Core is a definite its ability to split up the load of your tasks means you will be able to handle many applications at once, This is essential for students. Finally it is important to chose which operating system you will use. Microsoft is the more mainstream operating system however it is prone to viruses and can be very complicated to use at times. Whereas the Apple operating system is very simple to use and is extremely resistant to viruses.

Price:

Price is more than likely the biggest factor influencing the purchase of laptops. Apple computers are usually twice as expensive as ordinary laptops with the same system specifications. However you are really getting your moneys worth when Apple laptops as they are very smooth to run and suit student lifestyle. But if you are on a small budget there is nothing wrong with other laptops but make sure to get anti-viral software because you will be bombarded with viruses the moment your laptop connects to the Internet.

Support/Warranty:

Apple is well-regarded for having the best customer service out of all the laptop manufacturers not to mention there support website explains problems you may have in plain and simple English. The same cannot be said for Microsoft’s support service which at times feels like you are running through a maze as their site is difficult to navigate and they are unable to explain problems simply.

With most laptops you get a years parts and labour warranty, but is imperative that you purchase insurance because laptops are a big target for thieves these andstudents aren't renowned for looking after their property.

My Course:

I am currently studying Applied Psychology in college. This course requires a quite powerful laptop, as it must be able to run a vast array of applications. There is also a lot of graphic and media work, so a laptop of 15 to 17 inches is very useful. Many programs will need to be opened at once so a Dual Core is an absolute must. The complicated nature of this course means you need a laptop that is simple to use so Apple laptops are recommended. Weight is not as important as this college is easily accessible by public transport so you will not need to carry the laptop over your shoulder for a great length of time. But it is still recommended to get a laptop under 5 kilos to protect your posture and back. System power doesn’t have to be state of the art but just make sure it has a RAM of at least 2GB and a CPU power of 2.5 Ghz as this will cover most applications recommended specifications. You’re a student and are very prone to breaking things so I recommend insurance and Apple because of their simple to use construction’s and very highly regarded support staff. As for price that’s up to what you can afford. If thinking about getting an Apple laptop be ready to spend in the region of 1000 euros.

Etherington Equalizer Dampens City’s Mood

Prior to this game it was Manchester City who were making all the headlines whose owners are apparently planning anther January transfer window splurge, not only this but Mancini’s time at City is hanging by a tread as City’s owners are getting increasingly frustrated by his sides stop start season and are even more annoyed seeing as they have given Mancini in excess of 120million pounds to spend in under a year.

However, today’s match was all about two football teams with vastly contrasting styles, fortunes and form. Going into this match Stoke had won three of their last four outings in the league including an impressive 2-0 win over Liverpool. City on the other hand has had a very poor November. Following a battering by Polish side Lech Poznan in the Europa league with two home draws in the league against United and Birmingham respectively, many bookies suspended bets on Mancini being the first manager to lose the his job, only for a good 4-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage to temporarily save him.  The first half started brightly for Stoke who nearly broke the deadlock with eight minutes on the clock after Delap’s long-throw into the box was headed on by Huth and Fuller was narrowly wide with his volley. Hart had to make a quick double save from Etherington later on and Jones fired a weak shot straight at Hart after a slick one-two with Fuller on the edge of the box. The Stoke keeper was never even tested in the first half as both sides failed to break the deadlock.

The second half started much the same as the first with Stoke again going close, this time through after Shawcross headed narrowly wide from Tuncay’s corner. Both City strikers had poor games as neither Tevez nor Ballotelli managed any decent efforts during the game. Ballotelli managed to miss from close range as Silva’s delightful cross went to the far post and Ballotelli failed to get any contact on the ball even though he was unmarked. Of all people it took a fullback to break the deadlock on 80 minutes when Richards expertly turned his man on the edge of the box before slotting home low and hard into Begovic’s left-hand corner. But Stoke’s pressure paid off in the final minutes when Etherington latched onto Tuncay’s clever back heel to equalize in dramatic fashion and place more pressure on Mancini’s head.

Man of the match was arguably Tuncay. He showed great awareness to provide Etherington with the equalizer and his all-round general play was good. He had a fairly good impact since he came on for Pennant in the 45^th minute. In all honesty the only other player he played if reasonably well for either side was Silva who was calm and controlling on the ball without making a huge impact.

The game turned out exactly as people expected with Stoke launching the ball down field to the tall strikers Jones and Fuller and City were happy to sit back in their half and not be adventurous which is what they are known for under Mancini’s reign. City have got to change their formation if they ever want to win this league, all their results prove that three defence minded midfielders doesn’t work unless you are trying to hold onto a game. Given how much money City have spent on the last three seasons you would expect them to be winning nearly every game instead of holding on for much of them. I can’t see Mancini lasting much longer there. He just doesn’t know how to handle the EPL or how to handle top players like great mangers like Ferguson, Mourinho or Hiddink can. Until Mancini releases his team’s defensive shackles they will win no silverware for man seasons to come.

It was another poor display from City but all credit should go to Stoke, they didn’t give their illustrious opponents any room today and went at them all game and fully deserved the draw. They have done well this season and have earned their spot in the top half of the table and I fully hope they stay there.

Berba Stars As United Put Seven Past Rovers

Todays match at Old Trafford was inevitably going to be all about Wayne Rooney's first start in the EPL in over a month. During that time he had announced he would not sign a new contract because of United's lack of ambition. Before sensationally signing a new five year contract three days later worth in the region of 65 million pounds. He then spent a week at Nike World in Oregon with specialist staff to work on his troublesome ankle injury, losing half a stone in the process.

But today's match was all about United's and particularly Berbatov's absolute demolition of an in-form Blackburn side that had won three out of their last four outings. The tone of the match was set very early on with Berbatov scoring his first goal since his hat-trick against Liverpool in September. Robinson collided with Anderson as they both raced onto a through-ball, the ball came back to Nani who played in a in-swinging right-footed cross from the edge of the area that was met with deft header from Rooney to Berbatov to stab home from close range with only two minutes gone. Blackburn were still in the game with United playing a dangerous game with their passing at times although Van Der Sar was never tested in the first half. All hopes of a Rover's comeback were soon ended when Park found Rooney on the edge of the box before Rooney played a perfectly waited through-ball back to Park who then chipped the on-rushing Robinson to make the score 2-0 and realistically end all hopes of a Rover's comeback. Berba added a second to his tally after Chimbonda played a horrendous back pass to Berbatov who willing smashed the ball in the top left hand corner.

The second half started out a carbon copy of the first with Berbatov completing his hat-trick less than two minutes in after fine build up play released Nani down the right before pulling the ball back for Berbatov to make it 4-0. Nani then scored a left-footed curler from inside the box. Berbatov made took his tally to four after stabbing the ball home after Parks initial effort was blocked inside the box. It was five for Berba when he finished form a tight angle after his ball for Rooney came back off the defender to cap off a magnificent performance for the Bulgarian. Rovers got a consolation goal in the 83rd minute when Blackburn captain Samba headed in a free kick from the left hand side.

Berbatov was outstanding in every aspect today, scoring five goals to become a member of only a hand-full of players to ever score five goals in a Premier league match. Not only this but he nearly became the first to ever score six but only for Robinson to save his firm header and deny him the feat. Rooney was also in fine form providing two assists and put in an all-round good performance, it will still take a lot more than just good performances to win over the hardcore United faithful but its a start.

In truth United could have had a least another fours goals as Blackburn were beyond awful with nearly one in three passes going astray and almost nothing in the attack department. This was an impressive performance by United but make no mistake they won't come up against many teams as poor as Blackburn were today. It will be very interesting over the next few weeks to see how Berbatov's and Rooney's strike partnership will perform over the coming weeks. The link-up play was a delight to watch all game and with Rooney still lacking match fitness, this duo could put a serious dent in Chelsea's title aspirations.

An impressive display by united but tonight was truly Berbatov's night. His gotten a lot of stick off the United faithful over the last two seasons but it looks like his is finely starting to prove he was worth every penny of his 30 million pound fee this season.

An Introduction

Hi my name is Nicolas Arnold. I am a third-level student in the Republic of Ireland. This blog will be all about all the latest news in the world's greatest football league the EPL. I aim to report my stories in a critical and unbiased opinion. I am a huge Manchester United fan but they will still not be spared from my critical eye. If they play awful I will show no mercy.

That's the introduction. Hope you enjoy the blog and please feel free to leave comment on any story I do, just keep it constructive and no obscenity's please.

Enjoy!