Kansas clinch AFC West; Tigers go close in Arizona

If the round ball game holds little in the way of good news for this footie fan, there's better news for the Kansas City Chiefs who defeated the Tennessee Titans then saw other results go their way to confirm their place in the play-offs.  A season ago the Chiefs were bottom of AFC West so 2010 has been a big turnaround for Chiefs fans.  Their last regular season match is against Oakland at Arrowhead. There is no prospect for KC of a wildcard bye, but they may be hoping for a win to avoid the New England Patriots in the Divisional Playoffs.

Sadly for Tigers Fans they lost a close contest 24-27 against Iowa in the Insight Bowl at Arizona.

Liverpool back in action...of a sort

After snow and ice called a halt to proceedings at Anfield vs Fulham, and then stopped the third home match in a row at Blomfield Road when Blackpool were due to host the Reds, it was something of a relief when Liverpool finally returned to action at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

If action is the word.  Liverpool were tepid in attack, despite the return of Steven Gerrard, and posed little threat to Wolves.  A moment of defensive discord created an opening for Stephen Ward to put the Wolves in front, where they remained.  Liverpool now lie 12th.  A bleak result for Reds fans who will be asking serious questions of Roy Hodgson.











Roy Hodgson looks a worried man... as well he might.

Chiefs on the Warpath; Tigers in Arizona

This is my first post on the Kansas City Chiefs.  We visited Arrowhead while we were in MO but the Chiefs were on the road while we were around.  The Chiefs have had a useful season and with two weekends to go have a decent shot at the play-offs.  After 14 matches their record is 9-5, which is their best effort in recent years.  They last made the play-offs in 2006 with a 9-7 record that gave them second place in AFC West and a wildcard entry, before they lost to the Indianapolis Colts.  In 2005 their record was 10-6, which again saw them second in AFC West but did not secure a wildcard.

This season they still sit top of AFC West and have two home games still to play.  They last won AFC West in 2003 with a 13-3 record and last progressed beyond the wildcard round that same year with direct qualification for the Divisional Play-Off, where they fell - again - to the Colts.

This season the Chiefs are 6-0 at Arrowhead and 3-5 away from home.  With that home record, and fixtures at Arrowhead to come against the Tennesee Titans (3rd AFC South; 6-8 for the season & 3-3 on the road) and the Oakland Raiders (3rd AFC West, 7-7 for the season & 2-5 on the road) the Chiefs have their destiny firmly in their own hands.

Meanwhile the Mizzou Tigers are headed for Arizona and an Insight Bowl contest against Iowa Hawkeyes.  Mizzou finished 2nd in the Big 12 with a 10-2 record for the season.  The Tigers rank 6th overall for defense and the Hawkeyes rank 7th so it looks like a tight contest is in the offing.

Liverpool on Ice

No game today.  Ice all around Anfield saw the game postponed.

I'm dreaming of a Red Christmas

Well its eight sleeps till the big guy comes down the chimney, and here's hoping that Liverpool supporters can enjoy what's left of December 2010 and New Year 2011.

December results to date have been only middling...

• A useful 1-1 draw at Steaua Bucharest with a second-string line-up to confirm a place in the last 32 of the Europa League
• A comfortable 3-0 home win in the Premiership against Aston Villa on Houllier's return to Anfield
• A disappointing 1-3 premiership capitulation against Newcastle on Alan Pardew's managerial debut at St James' Park
• A tame scoreless draw at home to Utrecht in a dead-rubber Europa league tie - with the second string again.

Ahead of the Reds are the following matches....(league placings as at 17 December)

• 18 December - home to Fulham (17th) in the Prem.  Hodgson's former charges visit.  Three points mandatory here.
• 26 December - away to Blackpool (10th) in the Prem.  A revenge three points would be a great result here but this is no foregone conclusion.
• 29 December - home to Wolves (19th) in the Prem. Another mandatory three points.
• New Year's Day - home to Owen Coyle's Bolton (6th) in the Prem.  This would be a really good scalp, but a draw is probably more likely.
• 5 January - away to managerless Blackburn (13th) in the Prem.  Depending on how quickly and how well Blackburn respond to the sudden sacking of Sam Allardyce, Liverpool can hold out some prospect of a positive result - probably a draw is the likeliest outcome.

Two steps forward, one step back?

Since my last blog Liverpool have played away at Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League, securing a 1-1 away draw with a reshuffled team of emerging young players and fringe first-teamers.  There was no place in the starting line-up for Carragher, Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Maxi, Johnson, Lucas Leiva, Raul Mereiles and Ngog. The performance was "workmanlike rather than inspiring" but the away point cemented Liverpool's place in the round of 32.  Achieving that result away from home - with a weakened side - is definitely a step forwards for the Reds.



Milan Jovanovic put Liverpool ahead in Bucharest.

Liverpool enjoyed a strong result at Anfield in their next outing, when they hosted Aston Villa, now managed by a former Anfield favourite, Gerard Houllier. .  It was the closest line-up to a full-strength side that Hodgson could field given the current injury list - with Carragher, Gerrard, Spearing and Agger still recovering - and Torres excused due to his wife going into labour.  The team produced a convincing win, with first-half goals from David Ngog and Ryan Babel and a third from Maxi Rodriguez.  Pepe Reina kept a clean sheet, breaking the legendary Ray Clemence's record for 100 clean sheets in the fewest starts.



David Ngog - diving, lower right of picture - puts Liverpool ahead against Aston Villa.

So that was two steps forward in a week.  The question was whether the advance would continue or whether the trip to Newcastle would signal a return to the disappointing away form that has hobbled this Premiership campaign.  It had been a turbulent week at Newcastle, with the sudden sacking of Chris Hughton and his replacement by Alan Pardew.  How would Newcastle's players respond to the arrival of a new Gaffer?

Well its locked up at 1-1 midway through the second-half.  Kevin Nolan put Newcastle ahead on 15 minutes and they held that lead at the interval.  Liverpool's luck turned on 49 mins when Dirk Kuyt potted his fourth goal in six outings against the Toons.  The Toons may feel a little unlucky...

A hoisted through-ball hits a back-pedalling Sol Campbell and drops into the path of Dirk Kuyt, who surges into the area before letting fly with a shot that takes a huge deflection off Steven Taylor and rolls agonisingly past Tim Krul and into the opposite corner of the net.

So no contender for goal of the season there, but they all count.  Since the equaliser, Torres and Ngog have both failed to capitalise on good chances.  Newcastle have brought on substitute Nile Ranger who appears to have sparked them back into life.  Game on...

15 minutes plus stoppage time to play and Newcastle have the upper hand.  Babel comeson for Ngog - can this substitution swing things back to the Reds?  The next 15 minutes could significantly affect the Reds standing in the premiership table.  A win would take them to 6th.  A draw sees them remain 8th.  A loss would see Newcastle overtake them and Liverpool slip back to 9th.  Come on you Reds!!!!!!!!

10 minutes to play - a Newcastle goal to Joey Barton and maybe its 9th for us this week.  Come on you Reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Into stoppage time and its game over at St James Park.  Andy Carroll smacks in a net-buster from 25 yards - that's 3-1 to Newcastle, a great start for Alan Pardew, and - yes, a step back for Liverpool.

Coincidentally, Newcastle had the worst home record in the Prem going into this match, but even there, we can't get a result.  Come ON you Reds, sort it out!!!

Liverpool languish away from Anfield...again

Another away match for the Reds in this up-and-down 2010/11 season and another disappointing result.  True, Tottenham have made a bright start and their recent form has been very good.  Nonetheless, Liverpool will look back on a 1-0 lead that turned into a 1-2 defeat, missed chances to put the game away, and the heartbreak of conceding the winner in the 91st minute.

With Gerrard out due to injury incurred on England duty in the friendly v France, Liverpool will be concerned to see Jamie Carragher added to the list of walking wounded with a dislocated shoulder that could see him out of action for a month.

Liverpool have 14 points from 7 home games but only 5 points from 8 away games - and that away form must improve if they are to play themselves into contention for a top-six spot.

Tigers, ABs win in similar style

The Mizzou Tigers defeated perennial rivals the Kansas Jayhawks by 35-7 at Arrowhead Stadium in the 119th Border War to finish their regular season on a high note with a 10-2 record.  The Tigers scored 5 TDs to 1 with De'Vion Moore (2), TJ Moe, Kendial Lawrence and Blaine Gabbert all making the end zone.  It was a total performance in offence and defence.  Kansas gained only 141 yards of offense in their loss to Missouri. That total was the lowest by any Tiger opponent since Southwest Texas was held to 116 in 2001. The last time a conference opponent gained fewer yards against Mizzou was in 1980, when Kansas was held to 126 yards of offense in a Missouri 55-7 win.




Mils Muliaina goes over to score for the All Blacks

Meanwhile at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium the All Balcks completed their end of season Grand Slam Tour with a five tries to one 37-25 victory over Wales.  Dan Carter broke the world record for points in an international career and the ABs won their second Grand Slam under Richie McCaw and their third under Graham Henry.

Tigers stifle Cyclones for a double celebration

Mizzou defence held Iowa State scoreless as the Tigers "won ugly" at Ames, Iowa with a two touchdown 14-0 victory.  With Liverpool FC taking three points against West Ham this was only the second weekend this season that both my teams have been on the winning side of the ledger.

Next weekend the Mizzou Tigers play their great rivals, the Kansas University Jayhawks at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs.  With KU 3-8 overall this season and 1-6 in Big 12 matches, Mizzou go in big favourites against the Jayhawks and looking to finish the regular season with a 10-2 record.

LFC face a tougher test with an away fixture at White Hart Lane v Tottenham.  The Spurs sit 6th in the table but tied on 22 points with 5th placed Manchester City and 4th placed Bolton.

Oh ...and by the way...

In that other code with the funny-shaped ball, the All Blacks won the third test of their UK grand slam campaign with a 38-18 win over Ireland that was unconvincing in parts.

Reds roll the Hammers

LFC completed the first leg of the weekend double for my boys with a comfortable 3-0 win over troubled West Ham.  Hammers Manager Avram Grant looks to have his job in jeopardy after a lacklustre display that saw Liverpool 3 goals up before half-time before a tepid second-half punctuated by some good stops by Robert Green.  Goals to Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt (penalty) & Maxi Rodriguez.  Over to you Tigers!!!

Can Mizzou & LFC win on the same weekend?

Since the season started, there has only been one weekend when both Liverpool and Mizzou have managed winning results - the weekend of 23 & 24 October when Mizzou won 36-27 against the Oklahoma Sooners to take their winning season to 7-0 and Liverpool began to turn their season around with a 2-1 home win against Blackburn.


This weekend the Mizzou Tigers travel to Iowa State Cyclones and Liverpool host West Ham United.  It looks like a great prospect for a pair of wins.  Here's how the NY Times sees the Tigers-Cyclones match-up.

"Missouri (8-2, 4-2 Big 12) needs a victory over Iowa State on Saturday and a loss by the Huskers to keep its slim hopes for a spot in the final Big 12 title game alive. The Cyclones (5-6, 3-4) need to beat the Tigers in their season finale to become bowl eligible.

"It's do or die. There's no other way to put it. We have to win to get number six," Iowa State safety Michael O'Connell said. "We know that's out there. It's just the position we've put ourselves in."

Missouri has no concerns about getting to a bowl. It's all about what kind of bid the Tigers can land, and they're back on good footing after a solid win over Kansas State last week."

At Anfield, the 11th placed Reds take on the bottom-ranked Hammers.  Here's how BBC Sport see that match-up...

Both Roy Hodgson and Avram Grant received the dreaded vote of confidence this week in a sure sign that pressure is mounting at both these clubs.

Liverpool's malaise was brought into sharp focus with defeat at Stoke last time out, a result that left the Anfield club hovering just three points above the relegation zone and renewed some fans' calls for the return of legend Kenny Dalglish.

John W Henry, the club's new American owner, was quick to back his manager and warned there is no "quick fix" to Liverpool's travails, but Hodgson will be well aware that patience is a virtue in short supply in the world of football. His cause has not been helped by the loss of talisman Steven Gerrard for up to a month with a hamstring strain.West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady also made it clear this week that Avram Grant has the full support of the club's board, despite the Hammers' worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

Grant's side are five points from safety and without a victory since September. Their last win on the road came at Wolves on the opening day of last season, an abysmal record that is unlikely to change at Anfield on Saturday - the Hammers have gone 47 years without winning there.

For my money, it's back-to-back wins for my boys this weekend.  Go Tigers!!! Come on you Reds!!!

Kiwis, All Blacks triumphant in international double-header

It was a successful weekend for NZ teams in rugby internationals overseas, with the Rugby League Kiwis defeating Australia in the Four Nations Final at Brisbane by 16-12 with a last-minute Nathan Fien try, made by Benji Marshall.  It was a classic, tight, no-quarter-asked-or-given test match that went to the wire, before Fien crossed to give the Kiwis a famous victory over the Kangaroos.

Meanwhile at Murrayfield, the All Blacks made easier work of their Scottish opponents in the second leg of their Grand Slam tour of Great Britain.  Having defeated England 26-16 at Twickenham a week ago in a patchy performance, Richie McCaw's men  ran in seven tries in a 49-3 rout.

For Captain McCaw and Mils Mulaiana it was a record 92nd international cap, equalling the record held by Sean Fitzpatrick.

Tigers Bounce Back

While Liverpool had a bad day on the road at Stoke, the Mizzou Tigers returned To The Zou and extended their unbeaten home season to 6-0 at Faurot Field.  After back-to-back defeats at Nebraskas and Texas Tech, the Tigers returned to winning ways against the Kansas State Wildcats, winning 38-28.

A big performance from QB Blaine Gabbert and some big defense saw Missouri outgun the Wildcats.  Those big hits lead to three Kansas fumbles which saw them squander a TD and then concede 17 straight points, handing the game to Missouri.

Jacquies Smith scored on a 53-yard fumble return in the third quarter after Aldon Smith leveled Kansas QB Coffman with a sack.  In his own words...

"When I was rushing the passer all I heard was boom, like it was two trucks crashing into each other.  I just saw the gift lying on the ground and I had to pick the gift up and take it to the house."

Mizzou are back on the road to Iowa State next weekend before taking on their old rivals the Jayhawks on the 27th.

Anfield Reality Check: Pt 2

A weekend of contrasting football fortunes for my two favourite teams.  Liverpool FC turned in a very disappointing effort to lose 0-2 at Stoke City, slipping to eleventh in the Premiership.  It was a poor performance and Stoke were thoroughly deserving winners.  The defeat underlines the fragile nature of the Red's recent recovery exposed a few days ago at Wigan and is further evidence that Roy Hodgson has got some real work to do lifting morale in, and the quality of, his current squad.  It's a time for all true Liverpool fans to unite behind their team in the spirit of the club anthem...

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.

At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet, silver, song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your hearts
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone.

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your hearts
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone.

Come on you Reds! YNWA!!!

Reds held at Wigan

A run of four consecutive win ended at Wigan Athletic, with a 1-1 draw that saw Liverpool remain in ninth place in the table.  The Reds opened the scoring when Fernando Torres latched onto a Steven Gerrard through ball after seven minutes to score his third goal in two matches.  Wigan weathered the storm and fought back to equalise on 52 minutes through Hugo Rodallega.  Wigan had the better of the second half and Liverpool were under the cosh, before the Reds had a couple of late chances to snatch the win.

It was a reality check for the Anfield side after their recent rapid climb from 19th. Manager Roy Hodgson summed it up...

"At the moment, we've got a lot of work to do if we are going to be the big club that we want to be and everyone wants us to be.  I would be lying to our supporters if I said there will not be more games like this where we have to scrap and fight and work hard for our points. I thought we started well and finished well but I thought there was a long period in between when we were nowhere near as good as we can be."

Torres strikes sink league leaders

Liverpool continued to climb the Premiership table with a 2-0 win over league leaders Chelsea, inspired by two quality goals from Fernando Torres.  For Liverpool, this was their third straight league win and their fourth consecutive win in all competitions, and lifts them to ninth in the table.  They now sit within striking distance of a European spot.  For Chelsea, it was only their second loss of the league season and narrows their lead at the top of the table to two points.

It was a win built on hard work, dogged defence and - above all - the quality finishing of Fernando Torres.  For sure, Liverpool benefitted from the absence of Frank Lampard and Michael Essien, but their own midfielders worked prodigiously hard to shut Chelsea out of the game - none harder than Lucas Leiva.  Pepe Reina was a spectator in the first half, but made two important stops in the second half to keep his goal intact.  The return of Dirk Kuyt added a creative edge in attack, and it was Kuyt who's probing pass found Torres on 11 minutes for the opener.

The last word goes to Roy Hodgson, on that man Torres...

We were all in a situation wondering what the future would be during the takeover but, like myself, he can see a positive future here," 
"He likes being at Liverpool and playing for Liverpool. I don't have any fears for the future as far as he's concerned, as long as we can get back close to the top of the table where Liverpool belong.
"On this form, his performance was right up there with his best, it was an excellent performance. Fernando Torres is a vital player for Liverpool; he would be for any club. You can't have success without players doing that job for you up front."

Goliath versus Goliath

They're billing it as the the battle between the Old Goliath and the new.  Liverpool FC v Chelsea.  Roy Hodgson's Reds at home to Ancelotti's Blues.  16th (after others played today) vs 1st.  While the middle of the table is tightly contested - with three points separating 5th from 16th - Chelsea have opened a useful gap at the top of the Premiership - two points and a game in hand over second placed Manchester United; five points clear of third-placed Arsenal.  Chelsea have won six, drawn one of their last seven matches in all competitions; have eight wins, one draw and only one loss from their opening ten premiership matches.  They are the form side in England at this time.  Reds fans will look to Captain Marvel, Stevie G and the return to form of Fernando Torres for the much-prized win - but would probably not be unhappy to share the points.

Trouble in Texas

Match 9 of the 2010 football season started with great promise for the Tigers before a resurgent Texas Tech clawed their way back to a 24-17 lead and secured victory with a fourth quarter shut-out.  Marcus Murphy and Kendial Lawrence both rushed big yards for first quarter TDs before Texas Tech got on the board with a field goal: 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.  A Grant Ressel field goal extended the Mizzou lead to 17-3 before QB Taylor Potts came off the Texas Tech bench to throw a touchdown pass to Detron Lewis with 15 secs on the clock in Q2 to create a halftime score of 17-10.  The momentum had shifted to the Red Raiders and Q3 saw Taylor Potts complete a brace of touchdown passes to Lyle Leong (both converted) and Texas had scored 21 unanswered to hold a 24-17 lead.  A scoreless fourth quarter sealed the deal and Mizzou are now 7-2 after back-to-back losses on the road.

Captain Marvel

Another win for Liverpool under new ownership and in front of the new owners this time.  At home to Napoli in the Europa league, they were trailing 0-1 at halftime and unimpressive with it.  The halftime introduction of captain Steven Gerrard turned the match around as he scored an equaliser on 75 mins, then gave Liverpool the lead from the penalty spot, before completing his hat-trick in the dying seconds.  Liverpool now sit three points clear at the top of Group K with two to play.  That's Liverpool's third straight win and four matches undefeated since their loss to Everton saw them in 19th place in the Premiership.

Red but not dead

The other love of my football life are Liverpool Football Club, and while the Mizzou Tigers have enjoyed one of their best starts to a season in many years, Liverpool have achieved the exact opposite. Their season had been bedevilled by a long and distracting ownership dispute which lead - eventually - to a new American owner, John W Henry, replacing the much disliked previous American owners - Hicks & Gillett.

The first match under new ownership was the Liverpool derby - against the great rivals Everton at Goodison Park.  Liverpool went into that game in 18th place in the Premiership after losing their previous league game to Blackpool at Anfield by 1-2.  Liverpool fans well remember the days when we were accustomed to being Champions of England - a role now shared by Manchester United & Chelsea.  But for most of the last decade we have at least been accustomed to a top-four placing and regular competiton in the European Champions League.  Last season we finished outside the top four and sacked the Manager, Rafa Benitez.  18th placed however is unplumbed depths for LFC.

It got worse - 2-0 to the Toffees and 19th place in the prem. What a nightmare.  But now there are signs the team may be turning the corner.  Back-to-back premiership wins at home to Blackburn and away to Bolton have lifted LFC to 13th place and a 3w-3l-4d record. We are still a huge - but not impossible - way from European qualification next season but after being one league win from eight starts, there is some small cause for optimism.

Our next start is today in the Europa League Group K where we sit top of a tight group of four teams, the others being Napoli (Italy), FC Utrecht (Netherlands) and Steaua Bucharest (Romania).  After round robin, two teams will advance to the next stage, to be joined by 22 other teams from Europa Groups A-L and another eight teams falling out of the European Champions League.  3 points today would give a little breathing space atop Group K, but things are likely to remain tight.

OmruMIZZOU kicks off

I am just back from the experience of a lifetime - a month in the United States on a leadership exchange with Eric Johnson and private holiday.  One of the many, many highlights was a College football match at Columbia, MO, between the Mizzou Tigers and the Colorado Buffalos.  Mizzou were the victors on the day, by 26 points to nil. [That link will take you to a Kansas City Star match report.] 

Anyhow, my first live American Football game and I was hooked!  Since then Mizzou have played Texas A&M, Oklahoma & Nebraska. They travelled to Texa and downed the Aggies 30-9.  Then it was back to The Zou for a big showdown with the Sooners and a fantastic 36-27 victory that took the Tigers to 7-0 for the season and 7th in the national rankings.  Then a hiccup.  A trip to Lincoln to take on the Cornhuskers and a defeat - 31-17 Nebraska.  So the Tigers are now 7-1 and their next opponents are Texas Tech (a.k.a the Red Raiders) at Lubbock.

Texas Tech are 4-4 and bottom of the Big 12 South Conference - so the Tigers will be favoured, so long as they can pick themselves up from the disappointment of going down to the Cornhuskers.