Liverpool. 2nd on the ladder. Is that right? The club that somehow fought off teams all over the world to keep Luis Suarez in the summer is now putting their hand up to win the title. I had a conversation with a couple of Liverpool lovers at 5am after they had just smashed by beloved Arsenal 5-1.
Blaming the referee. Everyone’s done it. Some do it every week, no matter the result, while others will only drag out the cannons for extreme injustices. Ernie Merrick would be classed in the latter.
Flying Kiwis will keep you up to date on the endeavours of New Zealand sports folk overseas. Not the battlers, mind you, but the genuine overlooked and underappreciated superstars that for some ridiculous reason don’t get a look in on local media.
So I’ve been a bit slack with Phoenix banter lately. Excuses range from some monster days at work (Workin’ hard, or hardly workin’), the start of the footy season (Come on! Get in!), all the way back to moving back into my parents place (otherwise known as ‘living the dream’).
How the hell is Chelsea running away with the title?!!? Sure they have played more games, but still it’s impressive the way they have ground out results and got that champions mentality back. Jose Mourinho’s mind games are starting to come to the fore as well. He has said all season they aren’t going to win jack and it’s like people were starting to believe it...
With a fresh round of tasty Champions League second legs beginning tomorrow, I figured it best to jump the gun on the inevitable ‘Away Goals’ drama – specifically the way that stupid people misinterpret it and then make it out to be some second-cousin of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. It ain’t that. In fact, the Away Goals Rule is insanely simple.
When David Moyes’ personal letter to Manchester United season ticket holders was released last week, fair to say it was met with a collective apathetic shrug of the shoulders. A lot of the same old clichés and excuses we’ve been hearing from struggling footy managers for years, as if there’s a manual for non-controversial, endearing answers or something.
Well, funny story, there is such a book. And we’ve got some pretty handy connections here at Nichey Headquarters, as you’ve surely guessed by now, and have managed to get our greedy paws on it. It's called 'A Farewell to Harms', and was written by Norman Mailer. Here’s what Moyes was really saying:
Flying Kiwis will keep you up to date on the endeavours of New Zealand sports folk overseas. Not the battlers, mind you, but the genuine overlooked and underappreciated superstars that for some ridiculous reason don’t get a look in on local media.
Right, so, not the best start to this game. We knew it was gonna be a tough game considering that Japan are ranked 50th in the world (and should be much, much higher), and we’re, well, let’s say significantly lower.
Only 10 games remaining in the EPL season and there is only 6 points separating the top 4 teams in the EPL. This aint no German league with the leader being 20 points ahead of the rest and all the others playing like scared possums in the headlights. She’s going to be a tight race in England, that’s for sure.
Hero of the week is out of Benteke, Schurrle, and Shawcross this week as they were all instrumental in big wins for their respective teams. Benteke scored two as Villa ran out 4-1 winners in a relegation six-pointer against lowly Norwich. He hasn't had the goal-scoring form he had last season due to injuries but the big Belgian may just be turning a corner after this display. Benteke's first goal in particular was spectacular.
Flying Kiwis will keep you up to date on the endeavours of New Zealand sports folk overseas. Not the battlers, mind you, but the genuine overlooked and underappreciated superstars that for some ridiculous reason don’t get a look in on local media.
Another week gone in the Premier league and once again we have so much to talk about such as the form of our front runners in the Champions League, the relegation battle which is like no other and of course Liverpool’s red hot form. With only 11 games left to go this season, here is a preview of the weeks games as the going is about to get tough
Hero of the Week:
Hero of the week has to be Giroud after his influential performance and double against Sunderland. Arsenal have always had great build-up play and can rarely be accused of lacking creativity but you still need a man in the box to put the ball in the net and Giroud came up trumps. He also got an assist by flicking the ball on for Rosicky to score a brilliantly worked goal to add to his 2 goals. With the Frenchman being Arsenal's main striker, he could well prove to be their most important player as they chase the top spot - they need him scoring. His link-up play, holding up of the ball, his big stature, and his work-ethic cause mayhem for defenses and this adds another dimension to the Gunners attack.
“Yeah mate, go on” I respond.
Sam whips out the golf club that’s propped up against the bed, holding the dodgy fridge shut. The door’s opened, two Exports are removed; one handed to myself, one remaining in the grasp of the welcome visitor.
Flying Kiwis will keep you up to date on the endeavours of New Zealand sports folk overseas. Not the battlers, mind you, but the genuine overlooked and underappreciated superstars that for some ridiculous reason don’t get a look in on local media.
So, what’s been happening in Wellington? The big news over the last few days has been Brendon McCullum and the Black Caps, and deservedly so. What a cracking effort - conjuring one of the great Test match draws at the Basin Reserve. Well of course with all those records being broken, no bandwagon-jumping media firm had time to squawk about what was taking place just down the road… So here’s what went on in the world of the Wellington Phoenix, in the last 7 days…
This is proving to be the most open Premier League season ever, but while most people are focussed on the sprint to the finish line at the top of the table, they’re missing out on the tightest scrap of all, the battle to avoid relegation.
2 months. That’s how long we’ve been waiting for the glorious Champions League (CL) to come back into our lives. This means midweek football and everyone’s favourite Heineken ad’s back on TV!
If you have not seen the performance or highlights of the Liverpool vs Arsenal game then you need to, even if you don't like football. The first half is a masterclass of attacking pace and movement while also a perfect demonstration of how a team can crumble under intense pressure. Liverpool were pressing Arsenal high up the pitch from the very second the ref blew the whistle and Arsenal just couldn't cope...