Matchday 17 ~{Recap of all matches}

[Brasil]

Sunderland to win.

[Brasil]

Everton.

[Brasil]

Blackburn 4-0 Wigan.

[Brasil]

Thank god this is a home game and it's broadcasted on my TV Live instead of other matches. Sportsnet or the producer must like City or something they usually tend to show thier games

[histon]

come on united

[Brasil]

Preview: City v Bolton Wanderers

By Doug Bennett - 14/12/2007 19:06
Sven-Goran Eriksson is hoping to welcome back Dietmar Hamann and Elano for Saturday's Premier League clash with Bolton Wanderers at Eastlands.
The duo missed last Sunday's disappointing 2-1 defeat at Spurs and while Hamann seems certain to return, Elano remains a slight doubt and faces a fitness test on Saturday morning.
On the downside, Stephen Ireland will miss the game following his red card for a two-footed lunge at Spurs'.
Gelson Fernandes drop down to the bench for Hamann, while Eriksson faces a choice between Darius Vassell and Geovanni for a right midfield berth.
Rolando Bianchi seems certain to start after coming off the subs bench to score City's leveler at White Hart Lane.
Meanwhile Trotters boss Gary Megson is likely to pick an unchanged side from the eleven that hammered Wigan last weekend, with Kevin Nolan and Danny Guthrie likely to form the midfield backbone.
Eriksson is under no illusions about the task facing City if they are to maintain their 100% home record this term:
"They [Bolton] won 4-1 at the weekend, beat United of course and had good results in Europe so they will be a hard team to beat," said the Blues boss.
"It seems that the new manager has turned things around for them and the scouts we have had at their matches have commented on what a good spirit they have been showing.
"They fight for everything and are defensively sound so it will be hard for us. Of course they are a physically strong team but there is nothing wrong with that. If you have a great physique then you must use it. Then it is up to the referee to say whether it is too much or whether it is OK.
"They are known for being strong but they have good footballers too like Anelka and Campo."
Prediction: It'll be tough and not likely to be pretty. City to squeeze it 2-1.
City (from): Isaksson, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Etuhu, Hamann, Fernandes, Johnson, Petrov, Elano, Vassell, Bianchi, Samaras, Geovanni, Hart, Onuoha, Jihai.
Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Al Habsi, Hunt, A O'Brien, Meite, Cid, Gardner, Giannakopoulos, Guthrie, McCann, Nolan, Alonso, Speed, Teymourian, Wilhelmsson, Davies, Anelka, Diouf, Samuel, Al Habsi, Michalik, Braaten.

[Brasil]

Upon his arrival at Manchester City, former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson spoke of his belief that the Eastlands club could break into the top-four in the Premiership and bring back the glory days to the blue half of Manchester, who are without a major trophy since 1976, albeit in the new surroundings of the City of Manchester Stadium and not Maine Road which saw previous greats such as Colin Bell, Billy Meredith and Mike Summerbee roaming the turf.
>>
While City’s form this season has been impressive and a welcome departure from the mid-table struggle their fans had become accustomed to, the side have faltered in recent weeks. Three wins in seven games has seen them slip from third to sixth although they remain just seven points behind league leaders Arsenal, and Eriksson will be hoping that his side can bounce back from the 2-1 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
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The newly-appointed Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson has overseen something of a mini-revival himself, losing just once in six league games and seeing the club rise to fourteenth in the table. Before Megson’s arrival, the club had lost seven league games out of ten, and the remarkable turnaround can be attributed to the managerial change and has quelled opposition to the former West Brom and Leicester City manager’s appointment at the Reebok Stadium. Last weekend’s 4-1 drubbing of rivals Wigan Athletic also gave Bolton a welcome boost in the league table, following up the 1-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Cup three days earlier.
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With both sides’ managers having a clear and positive impact on their respective club’s fortunes, it will be interesting to see which manager wins the battle of minds in this Lancashire derby. The bookmakers favour the home side who have a 100% record at home this season, while Bolton have lost five of their seven games away from home and are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road.
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Recent meetings between the two sides favour the visitors, unsurprisingly considering the era of football prior to former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s purchase of the club in the summer and subsequent squad investment, and Bolton will be hoping that they can add to their four wins in five league encounters since March 2005. However, in the Eriksson-Megson head-to-head, the former already has the upper-hand after masterminding City to a 1-0 victory over Bolton in the Carling Cup in October, but the League will be a more passionate affair with so much at stake for both sides.
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Worryingly for City, they have looked a less attacking and inventive side in their last two games which coincided with their majestic Brazilian midfielder Elano’s absence through injury and Eriksson will be hoping that he has fully recovered from his hamstring injury in time for the match.
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It will also be an interesting game for City old-boy Nicolas Anelka who has been persistently linked with a return to Manchester, either with City or United, this season following another impressive goal return even during Bolton’s early struggles. While his former club’s front-line have struggled to make an impact, particularly summer signings Rolando Bianchi and Valeri Bojinov through a combination of injury and loss of form, Anelka has once again delighted the Bolton fans with a return of eight league goals in thirteen appearances, a record that gave the club’s fans hope that they could reverse their fortunes and avoid relegation for the first time since 2001.
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Ironically, Anelka could have swapped team shirts once the transfer window opens for clubs on 1^st January, and the French International’s potential boss could not hide his admiration for the pacy forward.
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“He has everything you could wish for from a striker. He’s got technique, pace and he scores goals, he’s also very strong. He will have a job to do for Bolton on Saturday, but we’ll have to try to stop him. We know he’s a fantastic footballer,” Eriksson said.
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“I’ve known about him since he was at Arsenal, and we nearly bought him at Lazio but in the end he went to Real Madrid”.
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On Saturday, though, the unpredictable Anelka is a weapon in Megson’s armoury and the man nicknamed the “ginger Mourinho” by fans won over by the improved performances under Megson will be hoping that he can fire them to victory on Saturday.
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Megson’s counterpart can call upon the dynamic midfield of Petrov and Elano and will be confident that his side can maintain their unblemished home form. While many critics have predicted that the Swede’s team will struggle to maintain their form for the duration of the season, it is unlikely that they will be able to add fuel to their fire after this game.
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FORM GUIDE>>
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Manchester City>>
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9th Dec Vs Tottenham Hotspurs (A) LOST 2-1
1st Dec Vs Wigan Athletic(A) DREW 1-1
24th Nov Vs Reading (H) WON 2-1
11th Nov Vs Portsmouth (A) DREW 0-0
5th Nov Vs Sunderland (H) WON 1-0
31st Oct Vs Bolton Wanderers (A) WON 1-0 (CCUP)
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Bolton Wanderers>>
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9^th Dec Vs Wigan Athletic (H) WON 4-1>>
6th Dec Vs Red Star Belgrade (A) WON 1-0 (UEFA)
2nd Dec Vs Liverpool (A) LOST 4-0
29th Nov Vs Aris Salonika (H) DREW 1-1 (UEFA)
24th Nov Vs Man United (H) WON 1-0
11th Nov Vs Middlesbrough (H) DREW 0-0

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TEAM NEWS>>
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Manchester City>>
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Eriksson will be hoping to welcome back midfield-general Elano to the starting eleven, and while one player, Dietmar Hamann, returns from suspension, Stephen Ireland misses out as he begins his three-match ban following his dismissal during City’s game against Tottenham.>>
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Squad (Available): Isaksson, Hart, Corluka, Sun, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Johnson, Geovanni, Hamann, Fernandes, Elano, Petrov, Mpenza, Bianchi, Vassell, Samaras>>
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Bolton Wanderers>>
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Megson is likely to name an unchanged side from the one which beat Wigan last weekend with no injuries or suspensions to worry about, and as such Andy O’Brien, Nicky Hunt and Danny Guthrie will all retain their places in the team.>>
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Squad (Available): Jaaskelainen, Al Habsi, Meite, O’Brien, Cid, Gardner, Giannakopoulos, Guthrie, McCann, Alonso, Speed, Teymourian, Wilhelmsson, Diouf, Nolan, Samuel, Michalik, Braaten, Sissons, Harsanyi, Davies, Anelka
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PLAYERS TO WATCH>>
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Manchester City>>
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Elano>>
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The Brazilian midfielder has been in irresistible form this season, leading the club’s goal-scoring charts with five in all competitions and assisting several more in fourteen appearances. Will return from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for the games against Wigan and Tottenham, and Eriksson will be looking for him to add fire-power and flair to the City attack.
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Bolton Wanderers>>
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Nicolas Anelka>>
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Ever the threat to Bolton’s opponents, Anelka has continued his excellent Premiership form this season, netting eight times in thirteen games. Has pace, power and clinical finishing which has prompted interest from Saturday’s opponents along with Manchester United and Newcastle United, and it could be the last time the Frenchman plays against City for Bolton.
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Speaking of Anelka, Eriksson said, “He’s done very well at every club he’s played for, why he has moved so much, I don’t know. I don’t know him personally, I only met him once, years ago, when the move from Arsenal to Lazio nearly happened, but there are no doubts over his ability as a footballer. He’s got everything.>>
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“He’s one of the top scorers in the Premier League, that’s not bad is it?” >>
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PREDICTION>>
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Away from home City haven’t looked quite as imperious, but they will be desperate for all three-points against a resurgent Bolton side that will be looking to continue their improved form and edge further away from the danger zone. With Elano, City look a constant threat and with the home support behind them, City should emerge victorious, but don’t discount a goal for Bolton as they have the constant threat of Anelka in their ranks.>>
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Manchester City 3 Bolton 1


Smart decision.

[Brasil]

No clue what all the :P 's are.

[Freddy Adu]

Portsmouth v Tottenham

Fratton Park
Saturday, 15 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day. Featured game on Score and Final Score.

[Freddy Adu]

Pedro Mendes could keep his place in the Portsmouth team despite the return to fitness of Sean Davis.

[Freddy Adu]

Davis has recovered from a hamstring injury as well as an illness, while Jamie Ashdown has recovered from a hamstring injury.

[Freddy Adu]

Anthony Gardner (ankle), Ricardo Rocha (ankle), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Gareth Bale (foot) are all long-term injury absentees for Tottenham.

[Freddy Adu]

Robbie Keane is suspended while Ledley King is not yet fit to return.

[Freddy Adu]

Portsmouth (from): James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka, Pedro Mendes, Diop, Muntari, Kranjcar, Benjani, Kanu, Davis, Nugent, Lauren, Taylor, Hreidarsson, Ashdown.

[Freddy Adu]

Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Lee, Stalteri, Dawson, Kaboul, Zokora, Jenas, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Lennon, Bent, Berbatov, Defoe, Tainio, Boateng, Taarabt.

[Freddy Adu]

Portsmouth keeper David James:
"Spurs is always a difficult game.

"It was last season when we drew down here and lost away, they always seem to test me.

"I haven't been on the winning side against them for a good few years now.

"It's going to be a hard game, they certainly seem to have been given a new lease of life with the new manager."

[Freddy Adu]

Tottenham assistant manager Gus Poyet:
"I wouldn't say we don't deserve to be where we are - we do.

"But it's a great game because of the opposition, because we need points and we'll be able to play our football.

"We have strikers who can score goals and we have to believe in ourselves, in our strengths, but we have to be strong defensively as well."

[Freddy Adu]

Portsmouth defend the longest current unbeaten sequence in the Premier League of 11 matches against a Tottenham side playing their 300th away fixture in this league.

[Freddy Adu]

Portsmouth are protecting an undefeated home league record; Spurs are chasing a first away win.

[Freddy Adu]

The match pits the club with most home draws in the highest league with the one with most away draws.

[Freddy Adu]

Pompey have finished level five times at Fratton Park, including goalless draws in the last three; Spurs have taken a point from five of eight games on their travels.

[Freddy Adu]

Portsmouth have notched four goalless draws in this Premier League season - more than any other club; Tottenham are on the longest sequence without a no score draw of 44 league matches.

[Freddy Adu]

Tottenham have won four and drawn one of their last five Premier League matches against Portsmouth.

[Freddy Adu]

PORTSMOUTH

Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 4th
Lowest could fall: 8th

1. Unbeaten in 11 Premier League matches; won seven and drawn four since the 3-1 loss, away to Arsenal, on 2 September.
2. Lost one of 13 in all competitions.
3. Five points better off than at this same stage last season, which was then their previous best in the Premier League.
4. Kept clean sheets in six of the last eight league games; conceding two goals in the 12 hours of Premier League football.
5. The only club to have won every Premier League game in which they've scored first this season; seven of seven.
6. One stalemate short of 900 league draws in their history.
7. On the joint longest run, with Birmingham, of 14 games since a Premier League score draw; the most recent being 1-1, home to Manchester United on 15 August.
8. Failed to score in four of the last five home league games; the exception being the amazing 7-4 victory over Reading on 29 September.
9. Picked up eight fewer points at home than on their Premier League travels; the largest such dichotomy in the highest league.
10. The remaining matches this year include a trip to Liverpool, a home clash with Arsenal on Boxing Day, and another against Middlesbrough, before the New Year's Day fixture at Reading.

[Freddy Adu]

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th
Lowest could fall: 18th

1. Won two, drawn two and lost one of five Premier League matches under Juande Ramos.
2. Beat Manchester City 2-1 at White Hart Lane last time out, but not registered successive Premier League victories in 18 outings since Middlesbrough and Charlton were defeated away from home on 28 April and 7 May respectively.
3. Scored in each of the last 12 league games since the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on 26 August; their only blank in 15 league outings.
4. Managed just one clean sheet in 13 league games (v Wigan).
5. Not been involved in a goalless draw in the Premier League since the away match with Watford on 28 October 2006.
6. Their 16 league games have yielded 57 goals (28 for, 29 against); at 3.56, it's the best goals per game average in the highest league.
7. Dropped an unparalleled 19 points from winning positions this season; drawn five and lost three in which they held the advantage.
8. Conceded more Premier League goals in stoppage time than any other club; six.
9. One of seven clubs still hunting for a first away win in this Premier League season, which, if achieved, would be their 75th maximum away from home in this league.
10. The Carling Cup quarter-final, away to Manchester City follows this on Tuesday, before the pre-Christmas north London derby against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Then another London derby home to Fulham on Boxing Day, another home match against Reading, and the New Year's Day fixture at Aston Villa.

[Freddy Adu]

BENJANI MWARUWARI is Portsmouth's top scorer with eight Premier League goals. However, he has not scored in six weeks since netting the second in the 1-4 away win over Newcastle on 3 November.

[Freddy Adu]

Sylvain DISTIN is the only outfield player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Portsmouth's Premier League games this season.

[Freddy Adu]

David JAMES has kept goal for every minute of every one of Pompey's league matches this term.

[Freddy Adu]

JAMES will be making his 148th consecutive Premier League appearance (Manchester City and Portsmouth).

[Freddy Adu]

Miguel PEDRO MENDES will be making his 50th Premier League appearance for Pompey.