Premiership round up - Week 10

Spurs v Stoke - 0:1 - Stoke ruined Spurs best start to a season since 1961 by winning the game - the spoilsports! Stoke got stuck in straight away and Woodgate kept them out, injuring himself (again) in the process. The rest of the game was all Spurs. They had their chances in the first half, and good ones at that but by a combination of good defending and luck Stoke kept the sheet clean. The second half started the same, all Spurs but no goal. Lennon (Spurs best player) was fouled and injured and came off, reducing Spurs to 10 men (all 3 subs having been used). Stoke (Whelan) scored in the last 5 minutes and Spurs were then denied a fair penalty decision and the game was over. I blame Defoe, who is absent for 3 matches due to the idiotic red card stamping incident last week. St Hal said Spurs missed their (many) chances but did not moan (saints don't moan) about the penalty decision, so… well done, Stoke.

Birmingham v Sunderland - 2:1 - Birmingham were by far the quickest team off the mark and after applying fair pressure got their first goal (Ridgewell) after 37 minutes, even though it was offside. Early in the second half McFadden made it two. Sunderland (Dann) got one back from a free kick with 9 minutes to go. Bent should have equalized but failed to, leaving Birmingham with a very decently earned home win.

Wolves v Aston Villa - 1:1 - another midlands derby. Wolves came off the blocks quickly but Villa soaked up everything Wolves threw at them. The second half was a reversal of the first, Villa making the running but after 34 minutes Agbonlahor scored the opening goal for Villa. Wolves, however, refused to lie down and were awarded a penalty, taken by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the 83rd minute and (as the commentator said) he almost took off the back of the net. A slightly better draw for Wolves than for Villa, overall, in Your Ear's opinion.

Chelsea v Blackburn - 5:0 - Ashely Cole was injured, but Joe Cole returned, so still (a) Cole in the hole for Chelsea. Cole should have scored after 30 seconds but must be a bit rusty and missed a sitter. Instead Chelsea forced an own goal by Givet (Drogba would have scored it otherwise). Many Chelsea efforts in the rest of the half yielded no fruit, but 2½ minutes into the second half Lampard got Chelsea's second. Essien banged one in from distance for their third. Drogba was awarded a penalty and Lampard duly rifled in their fourth. Drogba headed in their fifth (the last 4 goals coming within the first 18 minutes of half time). The gulf in standard reduced swine-flu stricken Blackburn to fish in a barrel. Big Sam was philosophical, but he had Hobson's choice. Ancelotti was 'very happy' (we await an increase in Ancelotti's vocabulary with baited breath).

Burnley v Wigan - 1:3 - great start for Burnley (Fletcher) who scored after 4 minutes. Wigan might have equalized twice but Jensen blocked two good shots. Then he slipped, injured himself, and Rodallega rolled the ball over the goal line after 11 minutes. Soon after the second half began Rodallega banged one in, making a chance out of nothing. Boyce made it three and Burnley's perfect home wins record was history. Wigan look more and more like a good, capable side.

Hull v Portsmouth - 0:0 - A quiet (boring) first half ended with honours even. The second half held more promise for Portsmouth, who had many more opportunities, but the game ended in a goal-less draw. The most interesting player story was Myhill's (the Hull keeper), who first needlessly gave away a dangerous (but profitless) free kick to Portsmouth, then seemed to get so annoyed (possibly with himself) that he injured himself by kicking the ball up-field. Maybe one or other of these sides will be relegated, but Paul Hart looks less drawn and hunted than Phil Brown.

Bolton v Everton - 3:2 - South Korean, Lee scored a very tidy goal for Bolton's first, and Gary Cahill (not Tim on the other side) got their second 11 minutes later, both gifted to them by a lacklustre Everton defence. Saha scored a great long range shot 5 minutes after, to give Everton some hope and Fellaini equalized 10 minutes into the 2nd half. After a sterling run up-field 19 year old Dan Gosling should have won the game for Everton by passing the ball, but he went for glory and failed to score. At this point in the game it seemed like Everton would win it, the only question being when. Double kidney transplantee, Croatian, Ivan Klasnic was knocked cold and might have left the field, but he stayed on and scored a very good goal to win the game for Bolton with 4 minutes to go. Gary Megson, vilified by the press and supporters so heavily earlier in the season, is now the club's top man, following Bolton's first home win of the season.

Liverpool v Man Utd - 2:0 - Before the game Liverpool were 7 points behind United and following Liverpool's run of 4 successive defeats, including 2 in the league (their worst run in 22 years) Rafael Benitez was overwhelmed with management messages of support; "Benitez job safe" says Reds chief. Pressure had been mounting on Benitez, but the Spaniard was handed long term job assurances by the club's managing director just 3 hours before the match. Rafa looked suitably terrified as he stepped out onto the touchline. Had Liverpool lost this tie their dismal 22 year record would have stretched to 'worst in 56' and Liverpool's hopes of winning a first league title since 1990 might have seemed doomed. But what are they saying now? In a terrific end to end game Liverpool, even without Gerrard, came out on top after a magnificent 65th minute goal by Torres and another in extra time by N'Gog. Man of the match was Benayoun, who played brilliantly. Rooney, who is not known to be the most cheerful player in defeat, shook hands with every Liverpool player after the game and Ferguson, after the statutory minute of ranting at referee's decisions, was magnanimous, saying that Liverpool were the better side on the day. Your Ear believes that United may come to feel that £80m was a poor price to achieve for Ronaldo.

Manchester City v Fulham - 2:2 - City were unlucky to have a goal disallowed in a featureless first half, but Zamora was guilty of a 'miss of the season' after the break. A scrappy goal by Lescott put City ahead and Pertrov made it two with a fine strike within 6 minutes. But Fulham like playing away to City and minutes later Duff and Dempsey scored a brace of goals for Fulham in quick succession. A great result for Fulham while City wobbled.

West Ham v Arsenal - 2:2 - Arsenal looked as though they were in no mood to mess about and simple, workmanlike goals by Van Persie and Gallas put the Gunners 2 ahead by half time. And up until the last 10 minutes of the game you'd have thought the biggest smile of the weekend would have been plastered across Arsene Wenger's face, and that Zola would go off to find himself a nice place to hibernate for the rest of the winter and forget it all. But West Ham, through Cole, got one back on the rebound from a Diamanti free kick and from then on Arsenal looked nervous. A soft(ish) penalty decision went in the Hammer's favour and they were level (Diamanti). Scott Parker seemed unfortunate to be sent off (2 yellows) but he is volatile, falls over easily, and gets on the wrong side of referees. West Ham have been playing better than their results show and Zola is 'appy again. Wenger miffed, but uncomplaining.

National Headlines (to keep us in perspective) - James Dyson Launches Bladeless Fan - which he hopes will be a healthy and environmentally-friendly alternative to air conditioning. The 62-year-old designer, who gave his name to the bagless vacuum cleaner, said the bladeless fan stops the unpleasant "turbulent buffeting" of traditional desk fans, creating a smooth, constant air flow "like a breeze". Peeved Trader Plans Shocking Punishment For Yobs - Businessman John O'Connor, having spent around €3,000 on cameras and other security devices seeking to deter a stream of late-night partygoers who use his premises as an outdoor toilet, is now installing live wires across the pavement immediately in front of his music shop in County Clare. An angry Mr O'Connor said offenders should zip up or face the consequences. "If anybody persists with this anti-social behaviour they'll get a shock, they'll know all about it. The wires are on the ground where I'm greeted every Monday morning with pools of their urine, mounds of their faeces," he said. "You can see it (the device), it's pretty obvious what's there. There are signs everywhere. You come to a certain stage when you just say 'Enough is enough'." Mr O'Connor could be open to prosecution for assault under Ireland's Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act 1997, which carries a maximum fine of €1,500 and a prison sentence of up to five years. A Gardai spokesman said: "If somebody was to injure themselves he might have a few questions to answer. If it was reported we would investigate." Who would report it, Your Ear wonders. Polanski resists deportation - The Swiss justice ministry said Polanski had admitted to unlawful sex with a minor: "He is wanted by the US authorities with a view to passing sentence for this offence," it said. Polanski had pleaded guilty to a single count of having sex with a minor and spent 42 days in prison undergoing psychiatric tests. He fled the United States before the case ended believing that a judge would sentence him to up to 50 years behind bars despite a plea agreement for time already served. However US law changed in 1977, reducing the maximum sentence Polanski could face to 2 years. Only 2 years? Your Ear wonders what all the fuss is about, if Mr Polanski fights extradition for long enough and is remanded in custody meanwhile, he might choose to do that time (which would probably be counted as 'time served' against his sentence) in Switzerland. Unless he can’t stand the yodelling, of course.

Football Headlines - Fulham Football Club owner to become president of Scotland? - Fulham and Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed told The Sunday Times "You Scots have been living in a coma for too long, Whatever help is needed for Scotland to regain its independence, I will provide it. When you Scots regain your freedom I'm ready to be your president." Al Fayed is urging his "fellow Scots" to detach themselves from "the English and their terrible politicians". But he is not enjoying much rapport with Scotland's First Minister and SNP leader, Alex Salmond. "I will do anything for Scotland but I don't want this Alex Salmond," he said. "I asked to meet him but he refused. I wanted to give him some help and advice, but he didn't want to know. I believe in Scotland but he still won't see me." Wonder why. Ferguson misquoted - when he was reported as saying (regarding the Liverpool match) that ManU had just had a total balls-up, what he actually said was that ManU just had to tot the bills up (for the disastrous result).

Sports’ Richest - Who are the five top earners in sport? As Your Ear does not have the resources to run a quiz you will find the answers below;
1 Cristiano Ronaldo will become the first billionaire footballer. The former ManU star is to be offered £1.5 million a game to take part in a series of friendlies in the Middle East (according to the Daily Star). Ronaldo already earns £12m a year at Real Madrid, while pocketing loadsamoney from a number of endorsement deals and his three clothing boutiques.
2 Tiger Woods, with 14 Majors and 71 PGA Tour titles, became the first $ billionaire sportsman on gaining a $10m bonus in this year's FedEx Cup. In 2000 Woods signed a five-year $105 million contract with Nike and also has deals with Amex, Buick, TAG Heuer and EA Sports. Together with Roger Federer and Thierry Henry he is also the face of Gillette, another $10m-$20m deal.
3 Roger Federer, with 14 Grand Slam titles, banked $36m in the last 12 months and became the first tennis player to surpass $50m in career earnings on the court at this year's US Open. Besides lucrative sponsorship deals with Nike, Rolex, Wilson and Gillette, appearance fees and sponsorship deals have added another $28m. His Nike deal alone is worth $10m annually.
4 Michael Schumacher earned a handsome $40m a year as driver at his peak in 2003, when he won his sixth (out of seven) F1 world title. This was doubled by sponsorship endorsements and championship bonuses. Schumacher has amassed an estimated $700m since his F1 debut in 1991 and continues to earn big bucks as an adviser for Ferrari, as well as for various media roles.
5 Michael Jordan retired for the third time six years ago but still pulls in $45m annually, thanks to a clothing deal with Nike. At his peak (with the Chicago Bulls in 1998/99) Jordan earned $69m a year from his salary and endorsement deals. Now the Charlotte Bobcats head of basketball operations, Jordan has earned an estimated total of $800m.

“Football? It's the beautiful game,” said Pele. Many would agree, but not all; Thomas Elyot’s 16th century account was not favourable: "Football, wherein is nothing but beastly fury, and extreme violence, whereof proceedeth hurt, and consequently rancour and malice do remain with them that be wounded." But J. B. Priestley, in his 1929 novel The Good Companions, offered a considered view on what football gives its fans: "To say that these men paid their shillings to watch twenty-two hirelings kick a ball is merely to say that a violin is wood and catgut, that Hamlet is so much paper and ink. For a shilling the Bruddersford United AFC offered you Conflict and Art." Priestley would probably have agreed with Bill Shankly; "Some people think football is a matter of life and death… I can assure them it is much more serious than that." And perhaps even with Delia Smith who, on being appointed a director of Norwich City FC in 1997, said: "Football and cookery are the two most important subjects in the country." Having dinner at Delia's would doubtless score highly on both counts.

Post Script - I always like listening to Marcel Desailly, who, when commenting on Chelsea v Athletico Madrid, said ‘Any mistake you make, you pay cash, straight away,’ That's good graphic use of his second (and possibly third) language. They should have him on the box more often.

The Ear – all the news that's fit to spout.