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Craig HillPremiership round up- the week it was
July 29th 2007 04:16
Portsmouth after their Asia trophy win against Liverpool (SKY)
Starting off this week in the week it has been with the Premiership teams, Portsmouth beat Liverpool 4-2 on penalties to win the Asia trophy, with both teams scoreless after 90 minutes which a saw a game of wasted opportunities. For Liverpool Gerrard and Kuyt were able to convert their penalties while new signings Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun failed, while Taylor, Lua Lua, Hreidarsson all converted thier penalties with Kranjcar sealing it for the Pompey's.
Becks watching on (SKY)
Steven Gerrard didn't start the game, as he is only said to be 80% fit due to struggling with a stomach muscle problem. There is said to be no problem for the start of the season.
Also in Asia, Man United finished off their tour with a 0-3 win over chinese side Guangzhau, which brought their record to 3 wins out of 4 totalling 15 goals, and are now travelling home to take on Inter Milan in a friendly on the 1st August.
Before Man U takes on Inter in a friendly, Arsenal is also due to take them on today the 29th in a friendly, after beating Paris SG 2-1at home. Wenger also expects Arsenal to challenge for the title this season despite losing Thierry Henry to Barcelona and Freddie Ljunberg to West Ham.
New Hammers captain, Lucas Neill (SKY)
On the subject of West Ham, Australia's Lucas Neil has been appointed captain of the team for this season after joining from Blackburn in January, which saw him knock back a offer from Liverpool. West Ham who have strengthened their team with signings of Freddie and Bellamy are keen to do much better this season. The Hammers were able to win away at Southend in a 0-3 win on Saturday.
Other friendlies played this week were Sunderland winning 0-1 away to Bohemians, Tottenahm winning 0-3 away to Orlando Pirates, Wigan 0-4 win away to Halifax, Readings 0-3 win away to the Seaguls of Brighton, Middlesborough 1-0 loss to Hibernian away, Aston Villa's won 0-3 away to Columbus Crew, Birmingham won 0-2 away to Walsall, Bolton won 0-1 away to Transmere, newly promoted Derby lost 2-0 away to Mansfield, Everton won 2-3 away to Kendal Town and Chelsea lost their first friendly to Rangers 2-0 away after re-signing captain John Terry to a new 5 year contract.
And just stepping away from Premiership news for a minute, former Man United and Real Madrid player David Beckham has missed the past two matches for the Galaxy against Pachuca earlier this week and Chivas yesterday, after only playing 12 minutes against Chelsea in his first match for his new team. It is said that Becks is still struggling with the ankle injury he picked up against Estonia on 6th June. It is beleived, the soreness is going, but comes back in spells of couple of days.
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Comment by Stanley
Comment by Andrew Aigner-Muehler
I will handle your complaint...
It is all about the service
Travellers Journey
Chinese studying in Australia
Where do I begin?
ESL lesson plans
Comment by charles
ZCars
Ponderous
And I agree.
When I see certain clubs not start a season so well, or a player pulls up injured and starts looking fatigued in the latter stages of the season, I sometimes do wonder whether these sorts of tours have an affect on the players and their well-being.
Would some players actually prolong their careers if they didn't play so many meaningless games in a season?
Or do the fitness coaches have everything covered?
Then again, it's hard not to understand Andrew's comments about these football players having the life!
They are getting paid insane amounts of money to do something they truly love.
These Far East tours and what not are just like business trips for them. They get to visit some nice cities and have a laugh playing football against sub-standard opponents who are usually in awe of their guests.
At the end of the day, maybe it's just a double-edged sword.
Charles.
Comment by Andrew Aigner-Muehler
I will handle your complaint...
It is all about the service
Travellers Journey
Chinese studying in Australia
Where do I begin?
ESL lesson plans
And also these days with technology, players can come back from serious injuries so much quicker these days, they are still carrying a bit of the injury, but they are able to play still.
Cricket is another sport where they say the season is too long. Do all these sportsman want to get paid for doing nothing. They should consider themselves, they are gifted, there are so many people out there in the public who wish they gifted.