F365 Features

ASTON VILLA - www.holteenders.com have a rare pop at Martin O'Neill...
'We won't come back again if he continues to think Nigel Reo-Coker can do a job as a right winger, nor as a right back and after spending over 12 months waiting for a natural right back in Luke Young, don't go and bloody play him at left back.

'Today was more than a bad day at the office, not only should it be a wake up call to the team but it should serve as a wake up call to O'Neill. If he wants to persist with Barry, Petrov and NRC in midfield, then go 4-3-3 and give Ash the free role.

'If he wants to persist with 4-4-2, drop Reo-Coker and play Routledge.'

BLACKBURN - www.roversnet.co.uk thinks a Hollywood actor is playing for Hull...
'Rovers had most of the possession, but failed to make too many chances, but they did take the lead when Roberts was left unmarked at the edge of the area and onside then poked the ball past the Hull keeper for 1-0. The visitors were back on level terms within a minute when Andy Garcia looked like he was trying to head a Fagan cross back across goal but the ball went in.'

BOLTON - www.worldwidewanderers.co.uk sees a typical Bolton performance...
'The Wanderers were resolute throughout, limiting Newcaste's opportunities through stout defending. James Milner missed a free header in one of their only clear-cut opportunities. At the other end, Nolan himself failed to convert a headed opportunity, and had another shot blocked as they looked to snatch a point back.'

CHELSEA - www.blueandwhitearmy.net on a less-than-convincing win...
'After Deco's fourth-minute goal, Chelsea suddenly seemed bereft of invention as they struggled to break down a stout home defence and it was the home side who got the better of the first half chances with Petr Cech being called upon to keep out efforts from both Palacios and Zaki.

'It was more of the same from Wigan in the second half as they continued to cause Chelsea problems, a situation that was confounded when both Ashley Cole and Joe Cole both left the field with injuries.'

EVERTON - www.whenskiesaregrey.com is frustrated at a lack of signings...
'This is the same summer when our neighbours are struggling for cash and are having to chase players that wouldn't get a game for Chelsea or Manchester United, and following a season where we led them for months. Was this the summer we could make a real push for fourth and get into the licence-to-print-money league? Again, we'll never know.

'So, with a week to go we're "lowering the standard of players" that we're after and nothing illustrates that more than some no-mark from Nuremberg. From Gemmill and Gascoigne to Arteta and Cahill on a shoestring and we still don't back him. If he doesn't sign this contract we'll only have ourselves to blame.'

FULHAM - www.toofif.com is certainly happier than last week...
'Fulham claimed a huge victory in the London derby against Arsenal with a spirited performance to down Arsene Wenger's men with Brede Hangeland's close range finish in the first half proving the quintessential difference. Once again Fulham started brightly and it wasn't a surprise to see Roy Hodgson's side take a deserved lead when Jimmy Bullard's cross wasn't dealt with by the visitors, leaving home defender Brede Hangeland to scramble the ball in after 20 minutes of the game.'

HULL CITY - hullcity.rivals.net is very excited to be here...
'City had put in a humongous effort to get something from this game and although the win was probably a mite too far for the visitors, a point was the very least they deserved. The predictable groan from the home stands greeted the final whistle, undoubtedly peeved their side had not beaten 'a team like Hull City' blah, blah.

'Rather funny, because nobody has been able to beat 'a team like Hull City' in the Premier League so far. Long may it continue. And on this evidence, the same hard work and endeavour will mean Blackburn and Fulham won't be the only sides on the wrong end of underestimating a committed, driven and well drilled Phil Brown led side. Well done City, you were magnificent today.'

LIVERPOOL - www.shanklygates.co.uk on the end justuifying the means...
'Then, in stoppage time, Gerrard met a loose ball just inside the area and clipped a magnificent curling shot into the top corner to send Anfield into raptures. It was harsh on Gareth Southgate's men but Liverpool will head into Wednesday's Champions League qualifier with Standard Liege on the back of wins in their opening two Premier League games for the first time under Benitez's tenure.'

MANCHESTER CITY - www.blueview.co.uk likes Kompany...
'Making his debut just 48 hours after joining the club, Vincent Kompany enjoyed a magnificent bow, dominating in a defensive midfield role before slotting in at centre-half following Richards' departure.

'Although the Blues could not force the breakthrough until after Noble's deserved dismissal, the writing was on the wall with the Blues dominating possession and hitting the woodwork twice, courtesy of a deflected effort from Ben Haim and a Petrov free-kick that beat Green all ends up before rattling the post.'

MANYOO - www.uwsonline.com manages a pop at Citeh...
'Berbatov has handed in a transfer request and made it clear that he wants to leave, but with two years left on his contract the 27-year-old might have to get used to being abused in front of City-European-home-game-sized crowds if the mardarse Spurs board decide that it's their ball and we're not playing with it.

'Metaphorically speaking of course.'

MIDDLESBROUGH - www.boro1876.com on an 'almost' kind of day...
'Not one of the players taking to the field was alive the last time Boro won at Anfield some 32 years ago - and, sadly, that unwanted record remains in place for at least another 12 months. Boro can be proud of their performance, however, and we can go into upcoming home games with Yeovil and Stoke full of confidence.'

NEWCASTLE UNITED - www.talkofthetyne.com condemn Bolton's tactics...
'We opened our home season against what can be called a stubborn Bolton team who once again came to spoil the party at St James Park in front of a lacklustre first day crowd. With Newcastle picking up a well earned point in the first game at Old Trafford the toon army were in a confident mood going into this game.'

PORTSMOUTH - www.pompey-fans.com is trying not to worry yet...
'It has been a sticky start to the season, but it is far from time to panic yet. This was a far better performance than the capitulation at Chelsea and this time last season Pompey also lost twice in August, without having the comfort of games against the likes of Derby and Bolton to pick up points. Oh. And United.

'However, based on last season's form - and remember how good that turned out - Pompey will only gain one point by the end of September. I am still confident they will do better than that.

'If Pompey do have only one point by the end of next month, then it might be time to get out the worry beads. But not now...'

STOKE CITY - stokecity.rivals.net on an amazing finish...
'Ricardo Fuller sparked a manic last 10 minutes when somewhat against the run of play showed great athleticism and fine finishing to give Stoke the lead once more. Villa were stung into action and within five mnutes thought they'd claimed a point when defender Martin Laursen netted from close in.

'But Stoke weren't to be denied and Mamade Sidibe - who had only been on the pitch 15 minutes - got a faint touch on Rory Delap's long throw into the penalty area to send the vast majority inside the Britannia into raptures.'

TOTTENHAM - www.thespursweb.com knows they desperately need a striker...
'A couple of local pubs have been boarded up since the end of last season but a bloke behind me must've still managed to find somewhere for a pre-match livener as he was fast asleep with only 20 minutes gone. There certainly wasn't much going on on the pitch to keep him awake, in fact Darren Bent might has well have joined him so rarely did he get involved in any action.

'For most of the match we tended to forget about the movement and passing that had promised so much in pre-season but when it did come together the need for a decent spearhead to the attack was so obvious. Bent wasn't bought for this sort of role, back to goal, bringing other people into play etc. Only twice did he have the ball facing goal, once he fluffed a free header and once he ran onto a through ball and made the keeper tip his shot into the side netting.

'Bentley played behind Bent for most of the match, which is what Giovani had been doing in pre-season. Another odd decision from Ramos. I overheard two separate conversations during and after the game in which people expressed the opinion that they weren't sure that Ramos knew what he was doing and this sort of thing will only add to the grumbling.'

WEST BROM - www.wbaunofficial.com is trying not to get too down...
'Far too early for that sinking feeling? Probably, however this rather undeserved loss to a workman like but effective Everton side leave us already lagging behind Stoke and Hull...'

WEST HAM - www.on-the-terraces.com sees a poor, poor performance...'Despite a huge 10 minutes of extra time and City also finishing the game with ten men as substitute Kelvin Etuhu limped off the pitch, West Ham failed to have a single shot on target. All in all it was a bad day for Alan Curbishley's side, and may once again - rightly or wrongly - reinvigorate all the negative speculation surrounding Curbs' future at Upton Park.'

WIGAN - www.cockneylatic.co.uk sees Wigan fail to get what they deserve again...
'The crowd at the JJB were magnificent all match and the players were giving their all, but that final touch was letting them down. The set pieces were also dreadful and need a lot of work. Most of the free kicks and corners in the second half either didn't get past the first man or went straight into the keeper's hands.

'Ten minutes from time and Bruce started to mix things up by bringing on Henri Camara and Olivier Kapo in a 3-4-3 formation. But even with the extra firepower we couldn't find a way through and Chelsea escape with the three points.

'There is something for sure though, if we play like we have over the last two weeks for the rest of the season, we will win a lot more than we lose. Next up is Hull City and Latics have to view this as their best chance so far this seaon to get some points on the board.'