Footy Rhubarb
Hero of the Week:
There were many heroes this week with their being so many big performances by the likes of Palace, Liverpool, and Swansea. It's hard to chose one so I'll pick two and they are Sterling and Speroni.
Fergie’s Chewing Gum - April 1
Chewing over the latest and greatest in the major footy leagues. A big week for Bayern Munich and Liverpool, not so much for a few others. The German league title is already decided, Italy is getting close, France too, but we're in for a thrilling race to the finish line in England and Spain.
Flying Kiwis – March 31
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.
The False 9 with Senor Spectre
Looks like we are down to a 3 horse race for the EPL title with Arsenal dropping points yet again. Chelsea still has the games in hand but Man City is right on their back and could prop up past Chelsea in the next fortnight.
Scribblings of a Fair Weathered Friend
I left a perfectly good bbq on Saturday night. I left, just after my Uncle and his best bud JT turned up to my parents place - geared up in their Stoke and Liverpool shirts, ready to talk EPL and other bullshit.
Footy Rhubarb
With there being big EPL games on both the weekend and mid-week, this weeks Rhubarb consists of both rounds. In the last four or so days we've seen Man Utd bask in the glory of Rooney's goal to then being outplayed by rivals Man City at Old Trafford.
Fergie's Chewing Gum - March 25
The Holy Grail of European footy got a little closer for eight teams this week. The draw for the quarter finals of the Champions League was conducted Friday night (NZT) by a bunch of UEFA suits and ambassador Luis Figo (now there was a player...). It was Figo who drew the little plastic football's out of the bowl, and so by his hand we have the following, mouthwatering clashes:
Flying Kiwis – March 24
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.
Well, That Escalated Quickly: David Moyes vs The Internet
Here’s how the internet works: People do their best to create, perform and inspire in the real world, some person makes a joke at the expense of people like that, it becomes a meme, it goes viral. It doesn’t take a lot to get your 15 mins of fame if you’re willing to embarrass yourself on youtube – which is cool, do what you wanna do. But when the comedy vultures come out...
The False 9 with Senor Spectre
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.
Scribblings of a Fair Weather Friend - 3 games left
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 – March 17
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.
Scribblings of a Fair Weather Friend
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’).
The False 9 with Senor Spectre
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...
A Comprehensive Explanation of the Away Goals Rule
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.
David Moyes’ Letter to Man Utd Fans – TRANSLATED
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 – March 10
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.
All Whites vs Japan - Some Thoughts...
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.
False 9 - The Race to the top
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.
Footy Rhubarb
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.