Sunday, April 15, 2012

SPORT TODAY,,


Norwich 1 Manchester City 6: Six reasons why the title race is still on... Even though Mancini still insists it's all over



Bchester City have moved back to within two points of Manchester United, until today at least, after Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez gave an Argentine masterclass on Saturday to a spirited but ultimately overwhelmed Norwich side. 
If there was a shred of doubt remaining that City would fight tooth and nail to push United to the wire in the title race, it was extinguished on a bright Norfolk afternoon by a blitz of South American brilliance and goals.
Tevez struck a hat-trick and Aguero scored twice, with Adam Johnson icing the cake in added time. City won the reverse fixture 5-1 but, given the context, this win was much, much bigger.
On fire: Carlos Tevez wheels away after hitting his second of the afternoon
On fire: Carlos Tevez wheels away after hitting his second of the afternoon

Stunning though City's performance was, it does not alter the fact that United's title destiny remains in their own hands. If Andrew Surman's volley for Norwich early in the second half to make it 2-1 gave the hosts a glimmer of hope, it was short-lived as City stepped on the gas and ripped Paul Lambert's side to pieces. 
City manager Roberto Mancini again insisted that he was not trying to play mind games when saying in midweek that the title race was over. 
'It is impossible,' he said yesterday, asked again if City might now win the title. 'The race is finished. Now it is too late for us.' 
Pushed on why he insists this is the case with enough games left - including a derby game against United - to give City a chance, he said: 'Because it's true. But, of course, it's important for us to finish well.' 
Never this season can there have been a more emphatic example of 'what if?' about City's season. 
What if Tevez hadn't failed to come off the bench on that fateful night in Munich? 
In the swing: Carlos Tevez celebrates after hitting his second of the afternoon
In the swing: Tevez celebrates after hitting his second of the afternoon
What if Mancini had simply voiced strong displeasure about that incident instead of vowing never to field Tevez again, a statement that contributed, however marginally, to the stand-off that followed? 
What if Aguero had not been treated with the wrong type of foot spray for a recent ankle knock and had not missed games that ended in draws against Stoke and Sunderland? 
Heading home: Tevez nods his second to put City 3-1 up
Heading home: Tevez nods his second to put City 3-1 up
On this evidence, a fit and roaring Aguero, assisted by a dynamic, creative, committed and enthusiastic Tevez, is a recipe that surely would have had City at the top of the pile now, not United.
Mancini said he did not feel frustration at being without Tevez for six months from September to March. 
'I think the team did well without Tevez for six months,' he said. 'We cannot look back.'
The upshot of yesterday is a run-in now brimming with potential drama. It was Tevez who kick-started the rout on Sunday. 
In the thick of it: Tevez is mobbed by his team-mates after opening the scoring
In the thick of it: Tevez is mobbed by his team-mates after opening the scoring
He slammed home a 25-yard screamer to open the scoring in the 19th minute after David Silva and Aguero had combined to set him up, capitalising on Elliott Ward losing possession. 
Until then, the match had been fairly even, with City perhaps looking the more nervy. Anthony Pilkington was getting the better of exchanges with Pablo Zabaleta down Norwich's left flank, while a Grant Holt header was goalbound before Joleon Lescott used his head to clear the ball off the line.
It took eight minutes for City to extend their lead, though, Aguero and Tevez combining to create and finish the move. 
Three and easy: Tevez completes his hat-trick
Three and easy: Tevez completes his hat-trick
Aguero's pass into Tevez from the left edge of the penalty box was met with a back-heeled return and the striker smashed the ball into the top left corner. 'Their first two goals were absolute rockets,' Lambert said.
'We never wilted but when you're up against players of that calibre it's going to be a challenge. I'm not going to sit here and criticise my team. We've been incredible this season.' 
On target: Aguero wheels away after doubling City's advantage
On target: Aguero wheels away after doubling City's advantage
Aside from Holt's header, Norwich's best chance of the first half was a volley by the striker but it was straight at Joe Hart. 
What proved to be their consolation arrived when Hart punched the ball out six minutes after the break and Surman volleyed it back past him from 20 yards. 
Completing the rout: Adam Johnson beats John Ruddy to make it 6-1
Completing the rout: Adam Johnson beats John Ruddy to make it 6-1
City ramped up the work-rate and the pressure. Aguero brought a fine diving save from John Ruddy, who minutes later denied Zabaleta from close range with his feet. 
Tevez tore in on goal, stopped only by a foul by Ryan Bennett, then an Aguero shot was stopped only when it smashed into Tevez's back. 
Back in it: Andrew Surman made it 2-1 from close range
Back in it: Andrew Surman made it 2-1 from close range
Contentious: Tevez appeared to have been fouled by Ryan Bennett, but referee Chris Foy saw it differently
Contentious: Tevez appeared to have been fouled by Ryan Bennett, but referee Chris Foy saw it differently
In the book: Carlos Tevez received a debateable yellow card for diving
In the book: Tevez received a debateable yellow card for diving
evez scored his second when Ruddy parried a shot from Yaya Toure and he headed in the rebound. Aguero's second followed within two minutes after a jinking run and a curling finish, while Tevez completed his hat-trick by pouncing on a wayward back-pass from Bennett.
Johnson, on as a substitute, curled home his effort from the edge of the area in added time, having already hit the post, to make it game on - again. 
Over to you, United. 
Gripping viewing: The Manchester City bench can barely take their eyes off proceedings
Gripping viewing: The Manchester City bench can barely take their eyes off proceedings

Liverpool 2 Everton 1: Carroll repays Kenny's faith as much-maligned striker heads Reds back to Wembley


Liverpool's record signing Andy Carroll went some way to justifying his huge price with the goal which put his side into their first FA Cup final since 2006 and ended the dreams of Everton in the all-Merseyside encounter at Wembley.
The £35million striker had endured a testing afternoon, heading one straightforward chance wide, but came up with the winner four minutes from time at Wembley.
Everton had earlier gone ahead following a first-half defensive blunder which gave Nikica Jelavic a simple chance. Luis Suarez levelled matters in the second half following another defensive howler.
Sing up for Carroll: Liverpool secured their place in the FA Cup final thanks to their much-maligned striker
Sing up for Carroll: Liverpool secured their place in the FA Cup final thanks to their much-maligned striker

Manager Kenny Dalglish has steadfastly defended his big striker despite all the criticism.It could be argued the failure of Carroll to score consistently partly contributed to the removal of director of football Damien Comolli by American owners Fenway Sports Group in a ruthless move on Thursday.
Both the Reds boss and the 23-year-old forward will be hoping such a significant goal in Liverpool's season - hopes of Champions League qualification having been ended by a woeful run of results - will be a turning point for both of them.
Having already won the Carling Cup in February Liverpool remain on course for a cup double, which has only been achieved three times previously - and once by themselves.
Past experience favoured Liverpool against Everton at Wembley in this competition, having had two FA Cup final wins against their near-neighbours in 1986 and 1989.
Head boy: Carroll flicked home the winner from a free-kick in the 87th minute
Head boy: Carroll flicked home the winner from a free-kick in the 87th minute
Head boy: Carroll flicked home the winner from a free-kick in the 87th minute
Of the four FA Cup semi-finals the teams had contested, Everton had been victorious in only the first in 1906 and they went on to win the competition.
But the history did not weigh heavy on the Toffees, who had the better of a relatively incident-free first half with neither goalkeeper having a proper save to make.
That statistic would have been different had Jay Spearing not snatched at a third-minute chance after Andy Carroll had worked space to cut the ball back to the edge of the area.
Bright start: Nikica Jelavic was on hand to slide Everton into the lead after a defensive mix-up
Bright start: Nikica Jelavic was on hand to slide Everton into the lead after a defensive mix-up
With no goals in 48 previous matches of his Liverpool career Spearing was the last man the Reds would have wanted to see in a shooting position and he lived up to expectations by firing over.
Everton had two off-target free-kicks from Leighton Baines and Jelavic, who also had an overhead kick saved by Brad Jones, while Martin Skrtel shot tamely at Tim Howard after Steven Gerrard had picked out Carroll.
Pure delight: The goal caps a brilliant start to the striker's life at the club
Pure delight: The goal caps a brilliant start to the striker's life at the club
It may have been no real surprise the opening goal came from a mistake but the source of the error was.
Carragher, a veteran of 696 appearances, hesitated along with stand-in left-back Agger when the ball dropped in the penalty area and when the vice-captain eventually decided to deal with it he succeeded only in driving it at Tim Cahill.
The rebound fell favourably to Jelavic who coolly slotted a shot between the legs of a diving Jones to spark wild celebrations from Moyes on the touchline.
Few chances: Leighton Baines had one of the few early opportunities from a setplay
Few chances: Leighton Baines had one of the few early opportunities from a setplay
Carroll looked like he was to have one of those afternoons which have been all-too-regular since his January 2011 move from Newcastle with a glaring miss just two minutes into the second half.
Stewart Downing's inviting cross to the far post was headed wide from close range, prompting the striker to rightly hide his face under his shirt and his manager put his head in his hands.
Taking precautions: Tim Howard was rarely troubled in a first half that was dominated by Everton
Taking precautions: Tim Howard was rarely troubled in a first half that was dominated by Everton
Fortunately for Carroll strike partner Suarez is sharper in front of goal, especially when gifted opportunities like the one in the 62nd minute.
The otherwise-excellent Sylvain Distin badly mis-hit a backpass from wide on Everton's left and the Uruguay international raced into the area to slide a low shot with the outside of his right foot past Howard.
Big miss: Carroll was left in disbelief after missing a very, very simple chance at the back post
Big miss: Carroll was left in disbelief after missing a very, very simple chance at the back post
Big miss: Carroll was left in disbelief after missing a very, very simple chance at the back post
Carroll was at it again in the 78th minute, dragging wide left-footed from a good position but Jelavic, who at £5.5million already looks a bargain, was much closer in drilling a shot into the side-netting.
Suarez got in the way of another Carroll effort which bounced wide before Everton substitute Seamus Coleman, booked soon after coming on, was lucky to escape a second caution when he clattered into Gerrard but Liverpool took full advantage.
Time it right: Luis Suarez pulled his side back level shortly after the hour mark
Time it right: Luis Suarez pulled his side back level shortly after the hour mark
Craig Bellamy, on for Downing, whipped in the 86th-minute free-kick and Carroll flicked in a header.
Liverpool could even afford for another substitute Maxi Rodriguez to hit the post from close range as they booked a third appearance at Wembley in three months and kept their season alive.
For Everton, however, their priority now will be finishing ahead of their local rivals in the Barclays Premier League, something they have done only once since its inception.
High times: The striker was later awarded with the man of the match gong
High times: The striker was later awarded with the man of the match gong

Messi v Ronaldo: A season in statistics

GMF brings you the numbers to show who is better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi


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Who does statistics suggest is the best? (©GettyImages)
John was loved wherever he played.

Who does statistics suggest is the best? (©GettyImages)

If wasn’t apparent before, the 2011/12 campaign has been the one that saw Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo move into a league of their own and join the greats of the game.
Between the pair of them, no record is safe. Ronaldo became the fastest player to score 100 goals in La Liga, reaching the landmark in a paltry 92 games, eclipsing Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas in the process.
The former Manchester United forward didn’t stop there; his hat-trick against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday meant he became the first player to notch 40 goals in consecutive seasons in Europe’s top four leagues.

Just three days before Ronaldo broke the 100-goal mark, Messi took centre stage by breaking Barcelona’s all-time goal-scoring record with a sublime hat-trick against Granada.
The Argentinian maestro has also broken the record for most goals in a single season in the Champions League, and became the first player to score five goals in a single Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen in March.
Much of the praise this season has been directed at Messi and much of the talk has centred around whether he can stake a claim to the unofficial title of 'the greatest of all time'.
However it is Ronaldo’s Madrid who lead the title race by four points ahead of a mouth-watering El Clasico later this month, while the Portuguese international has scored more league goals this season than his illustrious rival.
So who do the numbers suggest is the best player out of the pair across all competitions? GMF brings you all the stats you need to know in order to make your mind up on the question on everybody’s lips; who is better, Ronaldo or Messi?
La Liga

Hat-tricks: Ronaldo -  7     Messi - 6
Goals (Games):  Ronaldo - 40 (32)   Messi - 39 (31)
Assists: Ronaldo - 11    Messi - 14
Average shots/game: Ronaldo - 6.9   Messi - 5.5
Pass % completion: Ronaldo - 80.9%  Messi - 84.1%
Key Passes/game:  Ronaldo - 1.6   Messi - 2.6
Successful dribbles/game: Ronaldo - 1.8  Messi - 4.8
Average dispossessed/game: Ronaldo - 1.9  Messi - 2.7
Average passes/game: Ronaldo  - 37.6   Messi - 64.9
Accurate through balls/game: Ronaldo - 0.5 Messi - 1.5
% of team’s goals scored: Ronaldo 41.6  Messi  - 36.6
Penalties scored: Ronaldo - 11 Messi -  5 
Champions League

Goals: Ronaldo -  8  Messi - 14
Assists: Ronaldo - 2 Messi - 4
MOM awards: Ronaldo - 3    Messi - 8
Shots per Game: Ronaldo 7.4   Messi - 7.1
Attempts on target: Ronaldo - 24   Messi - 34
Dribbles per match: Ronaldo 2.9   Messi - 3.9
Accurate long balls/game: Ronaldo - 0.8  Messi - 1.7
Accurate through balls/game: Ronaldo - 0.4  Messi - 1.4
Fouls against: Ronaldo - 14 Messi  - 23
Other Competitions/International

Goals in all competitions: Ronaldo   52   Messi - 61Hat-tricks:  Ronaldo -   7     Messi -  8
International goals (games) Ronaldo   6(7)     Messi -  5(7)






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