FM: P'boro Utd. - Year 7 ('10-'11) - Run for a Title

[Butter]

So, how about it? Can we get a title this year? England? The UEFA Cup? The FA Cup? The League Cup? Mr. Blackwell's "Worst Dressed"?

I'll take anything. As long as it's big and shiny, and I can keep my job managing the feel good story of England.

Our 5th place '09-'10 finish in England showed us to still be behind the big 4. But we finished with a 15 game unbeaten streak... and aim this year to take home some hardware, and finish ahead of at least 1 of the big 4.

[Butter]

June 2010

Kenny Lunt re-signs with us -- $800k per season for 2 more years.

Carlton Cole is named Supporters' Player of the Year for the 2nd straight season.

We get our $24.5 million in TV rights. The board announces plans to expand the stadium by 1,342 seats. It should be about ready at the open of the season. It will increase our capacity to 17,814, with about 12,500 seats. The expansion will cost about $4 million.

Our training facilities upgrade is complete, and now we're listed as having "top facilities" with a youth academy. Our finances are listed as rich. A dividend of $950,000 will be paid out to shareholders.

Our wage budget is now $43 million, and our transfer budget has been set at $25.5 million for the upcoming season. We have a surplus of $51 million.

The board are "delighted" with my performance, and expect us to achieve a "respectable league position" in the Premiership this year. The supporters are a bit more optimistic, being only "very pleased" with my management, and expecting us to qualify for Europe this year.

We make our first big signing of the summer. It's another defender from a big Dutch squad... this time it's 26 year old Dutch international SW/D-RC John Heitinga who joins the Posh from Ajax. Heitinga signs for $2.2 million along with a slightly over $1 million signing bonus. Heitinga averaged a 7.26 in 19 starts for Ajax this season... but averaged over a 7.8 in the season before that. His positioning and work rate are superb... and the only flaw in his game could be his marking skill. But he looks like he could plug our center back hole. He mentions European play as a big point in signing with us.

Klaus Toppmoller is sacked as head coach of Manchester United... my name is mentioned as a possible replacement, but ultimately it is Italian manager Vincenzo Pincolini who is named manager. Harry Redknapp is sacked as manager of West Ham the same day.

32 year old defender Sagi Burton announces that he will retire at the end of the season.

We make another big signing... this time it's 26 year old Dutch AM-RLC Wesley Sneijder joining us from Real Sociedad. Sneijder will become our highest paid player, but he is a big-time winger and should be well worth the investment. He rates 15 or over in 20 of the 36 main statistical ratings. He is very determined, has terrific crossing and passing ability, and is physically gifted. No holes in his game that are readily obvious. He will likely start on the right wing for us, but can use either foot equally well. He also mentions being excited to play in European competition.

European club rankings are announced during the World Cup, and we are the 150th best club in Europe.... Portsmouth is 148th. The top 5 are all English clubs: Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd., Newcastle, and Liverpool. Inter, Barcelona, Juventus, Roma, and Tottenham round out the top 10.

[Butter]

World Cup 2010, from South Africa

Eye on Posh players:
June 9: Lebohang Mokoena scores in South Africa's 2-0 opening day win over Japan.
June 10: Libis Andres Arenas almost carried Colombia to a scoreless draw with Spain on day 2, but Morientes scored in the 90th minute to give Spain the 1-0 win. Arenas was named MoM.
June 11: Cameroon defeats England 1-0 in their first match of the World Cup.
June 12: Emil Jensen rates a 7 in Sweden's 1-1 draw with Portugal. Talal El Karkouri rates a 5, but Morocco still beat Hungary 3-1.
June 14: Carlos Bocanegra rates a 7 in the USA's 2-1 win over Belgium.
June 15: Mokoena and Mngomeni start as South Africa's 2 strikers against Nigeria. Mngomeni scores, but Mokoena breaks his wrist in the 2nd half, and South Africa lose 2-1. Mokoena will miss a month of action.
June 16: Arenas helps Colombia to a 1-0 win over Slovenia.
June 17: Germany beat England 2-0, but England could still advance.
June 19: Emil Jensen comes on as a substitute in Sweden's 3-1 win over Canada. El Karkouri struggles in Morocco's 1-0 loss to Italy.
June 21: Carlos Bocanegra rates an 8 in the US's 2-1 loss to Ireland.
June 22: Arenas rates a 5 in Colombia's 1-1 draw to Mexico... a win would've sent them through to the 2nd round. Mngomeni rates a 7 in S. Africa's 2-0 loss to Wales. A draw would've sent South Africa through.
June 23: Emil Jensen came on as a sub, and rated a 7 in Sweden's 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan. England beat Algeria 2-0 to advance to the 2nd round.
June 24: El Karkouri rates a 7 in Morocco's 2-0 loss to Chile. A draw would've put Morocco through.
June 25: Bocanegra rates a 7 in a crucial 1-1 draw to Peru. USA is through to the second round.

Group results
Group A: Wales 5, Japan 4, Nigeria 4, South Africa 3
Group B: Mexico 7, Spain 6, Colombia 4, Slovenia 0
Group C: Germany 9, England 3, Algeria 3, Cameroon 3
Group D: Sweden 5, Portugal 4, Uzbekistan 4, Canada 3
Group E: Italy 7, Hungary 4, Morocco 3, Chile 3
Group F: Brazil 7, Holland 5, Saudi Arabia 4, Iraq 0
Group G: Peru 7, USA 4, Belgium 3, Ireland 3
Group H: France 7, Argentina 4, Turkey 3, Jamaica 1

Second round
Wales 1:1 Spain (WAL adv. 4-3 on PK's)
Japan 0:1 Mexico
England 1:0 Sweden
Germany 2:1 Portugal
Hungary 0:1 Brazil (in extra time)
Holland 0:0 Italy (HOL adv. 4-2 on PK's)
France 2:1 USA (in extra time)
Argentina 2:1 Peru (in extra time)

Carlos Bocanegra rated a 7... and scored an own goal, in USA's second round defeat.

Quarterfinals
Mexico 0:0 Germany (MEX adv. 3-0 on PK's)
Wales 0:2 England
Brazil 3:0 Argentina
Holland 2:0 France

Semifinals
England 1:0 Brazil
-A 43rd minute own goal by Dede proved the difference in this one. He was trying to clear the ball away before Wayne Rooney could tap in a roller at the edge of the six... but he ended up clearing it right into the back of the net. Brazil's offense looked pretty awful throughout, as England move on thanks to the defensive mistake.

Mexico 2:2 Holland
-Mexico took control of this one early, with Pumas fullback Israel Castro beating ManU keeper Maarten Stekelenburg to a cross, and heading it in during the 13th minute. In the 52nd, Mexico appeared to take control, as Atlas midfielder Juan Carlos Medina scores a ridiculous 30 yard strike off a loose ball, and Stekelenburg stood helpless. Holland get lucky in the 70th, though, as Barcelona's Giovanni van Bronckhorst scores a 20 yarder that takes a deflection and goes in. Then, in the 85th minute, it's Liverpool's Rafael van der Vaart sending Crystal Palace's Collins John through, and he scores to level the match. Extra time decides nothing, and Holland win on PK's easily, 3-1.

Third Place
Brazil 2:0 Mexico

Final, from FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
England 0:1 Holland
-Ruud van Nistelrooy scored a close in shot from a pass from Arjen Robben in the 7th minute to lift Holland to victory. Each team had only one shot on target all game long, and England just couldn't penetrate the Dutch defense to grab the equalizer, though David Beckham and Steven Gerrard both came within inches in the last 10 minutes. This is Holland's first World Cup win ever, after they lost consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978.

Both Brazil and France sack their managers immediately upon the end of the World Cup.

[Butter]

Our pre-season schedule comes through. Here it is, starting on July 12:
@ Dag & Red (Conf.)
@ Ovarense (POR)
@ Rio Ave (POR)
@ Beira-Mar (POR)
@ Millwall (L1)
v. Valencia (ESP)

Iain Dowie jumps from Coventry to West Ham, leaving one relegation favorite for another.

July 12, Friendly #1
@ Dag & Red

Ibrahim Kargbo scores off a corner kick in the 29th minute. We play with attacking tactics against this inferior opponent. During one stretch, we steal something like 4 straight goal kicks, and work attacks off them all, but fail to score. If our first team were playing, we'd be up 7-0. Graham Stack shows his inferiority as a keeper by misplaying a cross and letting it get headed in behind him in the 42nd minute. In the 62nd, reserve striker Elvis Hammond scores after a Rochemback free kick deflected off the wall right to Elvis. In the 87th, Hammond puts it away thanks to a nice long ball from Cristian Zaccardo. We take the 3-1 win. We outshot Dag & Red 34-3, but had just slightly more of the ball than they.

Win, 1-3
A: 6,079

Next up, it's my first foreign tour as manager.

July 18, Friendly #2
@ Ovarense

We go with a mix-n-match lineup here of reserves and regulars. Hugo Viana is the only one to come out at halftime (I mean, the guy can't even play a full regular match, you know he wouldn't last here). Fabrice Fernandes finally gets on the board in the 54th, scoring off a nice cross from Balaban. Ovarense score an own goal, thanks to pressure by Rafael Santos in the 79th minute. Possesssion ends 50-50, and we outshoot Ovarense 14-3.

Win, 0-2
A: 7,921

Lebohang Mokoena returns to full training after his broken wrist that he suffered in the World Cup.

July 21, Friendly #3
@ Rio Ave

We start out with attacking tactics, but Rio Ave play us pretty evenly, so we switch back to our defensive, counter-attacking stance. In the 30th, a nice series of passes ends at the foot of Carlton Cole, who scores inside the right post. Cole makes it 2 in the 41st, with a patented Peterborough long ball counter attack. Marco Ingrao set up one of those goals, and had a terrific game. Rio Ave had slightly more of the ball, but we outshot them 14-8.

Win, 0-2
A: 9,458

July 23, Friendly #4
@ Beira-Mar

In the 19th minute, a shot deflects of Sagi Burton and goes in past Grant. 1-0, Beira-Mar. Our defense is shredded again as Grant fails to hold a breakaway shot, and the rebound is put in in the 23rd minute. This'll teach me for playing the defensive scrubs. In the 44th, Balaban with a nice cross into traffic, and Vagner heads it in the net. 2-1. Thando Mngomeni wins MoM honors, but we still lose. Sarr and Balaban also rate 8's.

Loss, 2-1
A: 9,337

Our former striker Dejan Robnik signs with Ipswich Town of League One.

Mokoena complains about his contract... but he's making $1.4 million a year! I don't want to tick him off, so whatever you want, Cheeseboy sir (in case you missed it, that's his real life nickname).

Our final friendly against Valencia is picked for TV coverage.

July 30, Friendly #5
@ Millwall

Carlton Cole finally gets us on the board in the 32nd, thanks to a nice header from Kargbo playing him in. Sadly, Millwall equalize in the 83rd, as Lee Grant misplays a cross. We end 1-1, in a pretty boring affair.

Draw, 1-1
A: 19,633

Spurs sign 31 year old former Man U keeper Tim Howard to a 2 year deal worth $5.4 million per season.

Midfielder Wesley Sneijder and defender John Heitinga join the club on August 1, along with 21 year old reserve keeper Michel Boumann. The Commercial Director notes that our merchandise sales should increase with such well-respected continental players on the roster.

On August 2nd, Milciades Omar Bellomo joins the club from his Ethiopian side. This 21 year old attacking midfielder signs for $700k through 2014. His instant value is $11 million. He is Ethiopian himself, and should have the necessary quality to join the senior squad within 2 years. He is very good already, maybe even better than Kenny Lunt. But he needs a bit of experience.

August 2, Friendly #6 - Televised
v. Valencia

An evenly played first half... Wesley Sneijder picks up a minor knock, so he comes out at the half, as does Hugo Viana. Emil Jensen leaves injured in the second half, and Sarr replaces him at left back. Bocanegra sat out of this one with a bruised thigh. It takes until the 85th minute to open the scoring on this one, but then it's sub. winger Thando Mngomeni with a brilliant 25 yard strike into the top corner to beat the keeper... it puts us ahead 1-0. Sadly, a cross and a header in equalize Valencia in the final minute of stoppage time, and it ends 1-1. John Heitinga really impressed me... his marking skill may be slightly worse than you'd expect of such a top-notch player, but his anticipation and positioning more than makes up for any deficiency he may have. It seemed like he was always in the right place at the right time.

Draw, 1-1
A: 5,173

Emil Jensen strains knee ligaments in this one, and will miss a month of action.

League title odds
Man U., Arsenal - 7:4
Liverpool, Chelsea - 2:1
Aston Villa, Newcastle, Peterborough - 33:1

Coming in at 33:1, the bookmakers appear convinced that with a good run of results, you have an outside chance of mounting a title challenge. The price also reflects the fact that they would not place you amongst the hot favourites this season.

I also note that we, Aston Villa, and Newcastle are in the UEFA Cup. Newcastle is in, based on the strength of their 2nd place FA Cup finish. Southampton is shutout of the competition, losing to Tottenham in what was formerly the Inter-Toto Cup.

And just as pre-season sets to close, John Heitinga breaks his hip in training... and will miss 3 months. Fudge.

Mngomeni also strains his groin, and will be out the first 2 weeks or so.

I make 2 offers to defenders to try and plug the hole.

Not a great pre-season, but we did play a bit stiffer competition this time around than we did last year. And we are in the UEFA Cup, so this should be a fun season.

[Butter]

Community Shield
Aston Villa 1:3 Chelsea

We drop $4.2 million in transfer fee on 30 year old D/AM-R Diego Gavilan, a Paraguayan international. He joins us for a pretty small wage, considering, $1.35 million for 2 seasons. Gavilan is a superb right winger, and can play at right back as well. He is an excellent player, we'll just have to see if his age is a problem.

We also use another $1.45 million in transfer money on 26 year old SW/D-C Karl Svensson, a Swedish international. Svensson has good positioning and anticipation, and rates at 15 or above in all 3 major defensive technical attributes. Svensson joins us from FC Kobenhavn, for whom he averaged a 7.34 in 35 starts last season. Svensson is not a great all around player, but a solid defender. He should help plug any gaps in our defense until the return of Heitinga.... he will split time with Marcos and be insurance against injury.

Bosko Balaban sprains his foot, but should only miss our season opener.

August 14, Match 1
@ Portsmouth
Series: Posh lead 2-1-1
Fav: Pompey, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Alex, Marcos, Zaccardo
Mid: Rochemback, Viana, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Wallner, Cole

2'- Marcos with a 50 yard free kick, to Sneijder on the right of the box... he lifts a ball into the area for Cole, whose 12 yard shot is saved.

12'- A cross in to the head of Lua Lua, but he fires it over the top.

26'- Valery Mezague with a steal off Marcos in the box, but his quick shot is into the side netting.

30'- Wallner with a ball ahead to Cole... he beats his man, then advances on the keeper... his left-footed shot finds the target, and squeezes in between the keeper and the post. 1-0, Posh! Carlton Cole scores the lid lifter.

43'- After a good series of possession, Wallner gets the ball at around 40 yards, and decides to handle matters himself... he jinks around 2 defenders, then shoots a 20 yarder that beats the keeper to the top corner. 2-0, Posh!

45+'- A free kick comes in to the head of Mezague at the back post, but Arenas with a superb reaction save.

46'- Arenas starts the 2nd half with another terrific save, slapping away Mezague's effort from a Lua Lua free kick.

66'- Diego Gavilan in for Sneijder, Fernandes in for Viana.

Portsmouth cannot mount another serious attack, and we take the easy road win. Arenas takes MoM, and he was excellent in goal... he earns a 9. Zaccardo, Bocanegra, Rochemback, Cole, and Wallner pick up 8's for the Posh.

Win, 0-2, start in 2nd place
Shots/on target: Pompey 10/6, Posh 7/4
Poss: 54-46, Pompey
A: 31,838

EPL Round 1 results
Boro 1:1 Man City
Birmingham 2:0 Hull
Blackburn 1:1 Chelsea
Coventry 0:0 Liverpool
Fulham 1:1 Newcastle
So'ton 0:1 Arsenal
West Ham 1:2 Norwich
Man U 1:1 A. Villa
Spurs 0:2 Palace

The Palace win allows them to pass us.... based on "alphabetization", I guess. We're in 3rd after the opening weekend, but really are level with Birmingham and Palace.

[Butter]

Aug. 18, Match 2
1-0-0, 3rd pl., 3 pts.
v. Southampton (0-0-1, 17th pl., 0 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 1-3-0
Fav: Posh, 5:4

We go with standard counter-attacking tactics at home against an inferior opponent. We go with a mostly 2nd team lineup in an early season mid-week fixture.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Svensson, Kargbo, Sarr
Mid: Arzo, Fernandes, Gavilan, Sneijder
Str: Vagner, Mokoena

3'- Diego Gavilan immediately makes his presence felt... El Karkouri with a header forward in midfield to Vagner... he lays it off to Gavilan, who hits a superb ball into the box, just ahead of the defense and into Mokoena's run. Higginbotham tackles it away from Mokoena before he can take a touch, but it falls to Gavilan just outside the box... Gavilan volleys it goalward, and Niemi tries to scramble back, but can't get there! 1-0, Posh!

16'- The Saints with a good build-up... James Beattie inside the box, but he tries to leave it for Steven Reid, and Gavilan sticks a toe in to break up the attack.

21'- A horrible mistake by Southampton... Jonathan Blondel's corner is taken short.... but Mokoena with an interception. We have 2 on 1 at midfield, and Mokoena with a 75 yard ball to Vagner. He collects, and advances to the edge of the box on the right... he crosses to a wide open Diego Gavilan, who has an easy touch into the goal from 6 yards! 2-0, Posh! Diego Gavilan with 2 goals on his debut start!

32'- Fernandes attacks the top of the box... he squares it to Vagner, who nutmegs it to Sneijder.... Sneijder with a ferocious attempt from the arc, and it's high.

Sneijder is rating a 6 at halftime, and comes out for Lunt. Rochemback enters for a slightly injured Vagner.... we switch to a defensive 4-5-1 with counter-attacking tactics.

49'- Mokoena with a good run down the left... he cuts it back for Fernandes, who does well to gather it, then tries to curl one around his defender and inside the post, but Niemi with a nice save.

59'- We draw all the Saint defenders to the left, then 3 crisp passes later, Gavilan is lining up a 10 yard shot just to the right of goal for his hat trick, but he skies it. The goal kick is stolen... and just when I was ready to sub out Fabrice Fernandes, he makes the steal, then gets the return pass down the left, and drops in a beautiful cross from Mokoena, who heads it into goal. 3-0, Posh.

78'- Southampton's finest chance of the second half is a 25 yard free kick by Philip Mulryne that bends wide.

We just kick it around the park for another quarter-hour and take another shutout win. Diego Gavilan impresses on the right side, earning an 8 and MoM honors. Sarr, Bocanegra, Fernandes, Arzo, and Lunt also with 8's. Total and utter domination in this one.

Win, 3-0, up to 2nd place
Shots/on target: Posh 21/8, Saints 2/1
Poss: 51-49, Posh
A: 16,457

EPL Round 2 results
Arsenal 4:0 Blackburn
Villa 2:0 Fulham
Chelsea 2:0 Boro
Palace 0:2 West Ham
Hull 0:3 Man U.
Liverpool 2:1 Portsmouth
Man City 2:3 Birmingham
Newcastle 4:1 Spurs
Norwich 1:1 Coventry

26 year old Chelsea winger Arjen Robben goes down with a broken leg against Boro, and will miss around 5 months.

[Butter]

EPL Round 3 results
Portsmouth 0:2 Norwich
Birmingham 0:2 Chelsea
Coventry 2:2 Palace
Fulham 0:2 Man U
Man City 2:0 Hull
Boro 2:1 Arsenal
Spurs 1:1 Villa
West Ham 1:1 Newcastle
Southampton 1:3 Liverpool

Aug. 22, Match 3 - Televised
2-0-0, 4th pl., 6 pts.
@ Blackburn Rovers (0-1-1, 15th pl., 1 pt.)
Series: Rovers lead 4-1-1
Fav: Posh, 5:4

We return to the scene of our last Premiership loss.... 17 games ago, we visited Ewood Park, and dropped a 3-1 decision. Balaban and Mngomeni are not fit enough for this game, while Viana and Gerard continue to be injured.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Alex, Marcos, Zaccardo
Mid: Rochemback, Lunt, Gavilan, Sneijder
Str: Wallner, Cole

2'- Midfielder Neil Danns opens the action with a 35 yard strike that is not even close.

12'- Bocanegra gets up to head away a dangerous cross.

19'- Zaccardo also clearing away a pacey cross for a corner. Sneijder has picked up a knock.

29'- Gavilan and Sneijder play the ball back and forth down the field... until Gavilan holds up a bit on the right, then crosses to a cutting Cole, who receives the short cross, and shoots it inside the left post! GOAL! 1-0, Posh.

Rochemback and Cole also pick up minor knocks before halftime, and Kenny Lunt's stamina is at 65 at the break. 4 people need out, and I only have 3 subs. I use 2, putting in Mokoena for Sneijder, and Kargbo enters for Rochemback.

46'- Kargbo gets a yellow 20 seconds into his appearance for a shirt pull.

73'- A long series of pressing by both clubs, as the action goes up and down the pitch... our defense is stout enough to keep them out of the box, and finally we string together some nice passes.... Cole is on the right of the box, and he lays it back to Gavilan. Gavilan advances on the keeper, who has to hedge against a cross... but instead Gavilan aims for the far post... and scores! 2-0, on Gavilan's 3rd of the young season!

Mngomeni enters for Carlton Cole, and we put Kenny Lunt in defensive midfield and slow the tempo way down.

86'- A corner kick is pinballed around, until Michael Chopra gets it at 8 yards... but Arenas with a top-notch save!

89'- Chopra is played onside, and tries a quick shot, but Arenas is there... the rebound goes left, to a waiting attacker, but Arenas with another block! Arenas is developing into a world class keeper! 3 marvelous saves in 5 minutes!

The final whistle goes, and we've scored 7 Premiership goals this season without being pegged back. Cristian Zaccardo wins MoM with a 9 for our good defensive showing. Arenas, Bocanegra, Alex, Rochemback, and Cole all pick up ratings of 8.

Win, 0-2, up to 1st place
Shots/on target: Rovers 5/3, Posh 7/4
Poss: 53-47, Rovers
A: 27,417

I check the board's confidence after the game, and they are "absolutely thrilled". The supporters have turned to "delighted" with me, and are "delighted with the purchase of Diego Gavilan". I am too, the guy has 3 goals already. I mention again to the board that we must expand the stadium, and they agree.

[Butter]

Bocanegra, Alex, Sarr, and Zaccardo are all picked in the Team of the Week.

I am happy with our start, but we're not exactly playing the top teams here so far.

Our current stadium expansion is completed. I remind the board about our need for further expansion, but this time they snap back to keep my nose out of non-managerial affairs... they also become merely "very pleased" with my performance. Oops.

Aug. 25, Match 4
3-0-0, 1st pl., 9 pts.
v. Middlesbrough (1-1-1, 13th pl., 4 pts.)
Series: Boro lead 3-1-1
Fav: Posh, 6:4

The early season gauntlet continues with our 4th game in 11 days.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Sarr, Kargbo, Zaccardo
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Sneijder, Mngomeni
Str: Vagner, Cole

7'- Cole gets through on the keeper twice in 30 seconds, but can't finish either chance.

12'- Sarr with a dangerous ball back to Arenas, and he can't fully clear it, as Joe Cole deflects it to Tiberiu Ghioane on the left of the box, and he bends a great shot around Arenas and in. 1-0, Boro.

That was Boro's only shot of the first half... we created very little ourselves, but did have 7 shots.

Mokoena replaces a struggling Vagner at the half. We up the attack even more, and increase the pace of play.

53'- Sarr with a great free kick just over the last line of defense, and right to Mokoena... Mokoena collects, and slots it home from 15 yards! Great goal! Sarr is playing well in the early going. 1-1.

68'- Mngomeni nearly bends in a 25 yarder.

77'- Balaban replaces Carlton Cole.

84'- Fernandes with a cross in to Mokoena... a nice header, but right at the keeper, and the rebound is hoisted away.

90+'- Rochemback with a hard tackle in the 94th minute... he gets his second yellow of the game. I need to have a talk with this guy.

We take a point, but it's our first non-win of the season. Fabrice Fernandes picks up our only 8 of the game, and wins MoM. Arenas picks up a 6, as does Rochemback.

Draw, 1-1, remain in 1st
Shots/on target: Posh 14/6, Boro 3/1
Poss: 51-49, Posh
A: 17,782

EPL Round 4 results
Arsenal 2:2 Birmingham
Villa 2:0 West Ham
Chelsea 2:0 Man City
Palace 2:0 Portsmouth
Hull 2:2 Fulham
Newcastle 2:0 Coventry
Norwich 0:0 So'ton

We're in first place, one goal scored ahead of Chelsea. The pack comes next, several teams on 8 points.

[Butter]

29 year old former Posh DMC Alan Navarro signs a 3 year deal with Plymouth Argyle of League One. Navarro was one of our first ever transferred in players, and helped us through the ranks before being demoted to the reserves last year. Navarro played in 109 games for the Posh from 2004-2009. He scored 5 goals and had 7 assists, and averaged right around a 7 in his 5 years with us.

I give Rochemback his first official warning for his red card, and he accepts it.

UEFA Cup First Round draw
The draw is made... and looky here... we'll play Portuguese side Rio Ave in the first round. We beat them in a preseason friendly in Portugal 2-0. The first leg will be in Portugal on Thursday, Sept. 16, while the 2nd leg will be at London Road on 9/30.

Aug. 28, Match 5
3-1-0, 1st pl., 10 pts.
@ Birmingham City (2-1-1, 10th pl., 7 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 2-1-1
Fav: Blues, 6:4

Grant starts for Arenas, who did not have the best of games against Boro.
Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Bocanegra, Alex, Svensson, Zaccardo
Mid: Arzo, Viana, Gavilan, Balaban
Str: Wallner, Cole

7'- Balaban with a nice pass to Cole, who squeezes a shot through 2 defenders, but it's right at the keeper.

Not much else happens for the remainder of the half... both of these teams are just dead tired. 5 games in less than 2 weeks will do that to you.

Sneijder enters for Viana, who rates an 8, but is out of gas. Wallner has a minor knock, so comes out for Mokoena.

51'- A corner kick falls to Tomas Ujfalusi, who heads it past Grant. 1-0, Blues.

66'- Gerard on for Svensson, and we switch to an attacking 3-4-3, with Balaban moving up to the striker line.

70'- Keeper Iain Turner is having a rousing game.... we have a 5-on-3, and Cole ends up in prime position, one-v-one, but Turner with good positioning and a nice save.

We play nearly 6 added minutes, but when Birmingham is pretty much playing 11 men in the penalty box, it's going to be hard to sneak one through. Plus, when Iain Turner is rating a 10 and not allowing you in, it's gonna be hard to score. Grant, Zaccardo, and Bocanegra pick up 8's. Cole gets a lackluster 6. Our first loss in 20 Premiership matches. Again, to a middle-of-the-road team away from London Road.

Loss, 1-0, drop to 4th
Shots/on target: Blues 12/6, Posh 17/10
Poss: 55-45, Blues
A: 27,003

EPL Round 5 results
Spurs 2:0 Fulham
Blackburn 0:2 Norwich
Chelsea 1:1 Hull
Man City 0:2 Arsenal
Portsmouth 1:0 Newcastle
So'ton 0:0 Palace
Boro 1:0 Liverpool
Coventry 0:1 Villa
West Ham 0:2 Man U

Chelsea, Norwich, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Arsenal all move ahead of us. This is the 2nd straight year that Norwich has gotten off to a torrid start.

[Butter]

We make a signing just before the end of the August transfer window... 26 year old defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano from River Plate in Argentina joins the Posh. He signs for a hefty signing bonus of around $2 million, and for $3.2 million per season through 2013. Since Kargbo seems better suited for the back 4, and Cesar Arzo is really not that great of a player right now, we decide to solidify our defensive midfield position with this world-class player. Our shirt sales get a boost again from signing this big name. Mascherano has blazing speed, very good defensive ability, and is a tireless midfield worker.

The Mascherano signing maxxes out our wage budget at right around our allowed $43 million.

EPL results
Liverpool 3:0 Blackburn
Man U 3:0 Spurs

The league takes a week off for Euro 2012 qualifying.

EPL Round 6 results
Arsenal 3:2 Chelsea
Villa 0:1 Portsmouth
Fulham 2:3 West Ham
Hull 2:2 Spurs
Man U 5:0 Coventry
Norwich 1:0 Boro
Newcastle 4:0 So'ton
Palace 1:0 Blackburn

Our weekend match was moved thanks to the UEFA Cup. We have been bumped down to 8th, but now hold a game in hand.

Gerard hurts his foot in training, and will miss about a week of action.

Sept. 16, UEFA Cup First Round, First Leg
@ Rio Ave
From Estadio do Rio Ave, Vila do Conde, Portugal
Fav: Posh, 4:7

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Alex, Sarr, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Sneijder, Balaban, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

9'- Sneijder tries to curl a shot in from 25 yards, but it's saved.

13'- Bocanegra with a great ball to Sneijder, who gathers it on the edge of the area... he advances up the byline, then shoots from a very tough angle... it curls around the keeper, hits the back post and goes in! Wesley Sneijder's first Posh goal is also Peterborough United's first ever European competition goal! 1-0, Posh!

Rio Ave get their legs around the half hour mark, and start to pressure forward a bit more, but we head into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

47'- Good passing around the perimeter of the Rio Ave defense... then a knife down the center, as Mascherano spots Cole... he heads to Sneijder, who one touches to Wallner... Wallner with an open 12 yarder, GOAL! 2-0, Posh!

61'- Rio Ave's first shot of the 2nd half, it's a weak 20 yarder that's 10 yards wide of goal.

66'- Mokoena on for Cole, Gavilan on for Balaban.

76'- Mokoena with a great ball to Gavilan... Gavilan into the box, he tries to cut around the keeper, but he leaves himself with a difficult shot that he can't finish.

85'- Hugo Viana with a great ball to Mokoena... Mokoena is free on the keeper, his shot... off the post! It bounces clear, and is hoofed away.

90'- Gavilan plays Mokoena through this time.... he has to pause for the ball, but then he beats his marker, and attacks the keeper... he doesn't hit the post this time! Goal!!!!! 3-0, Posh!

Wesley Sneijder wins MoM, rating a 9 in midfield. Zaccardo, Bocanegra, Alex, Mascherano, and Wallner all pick up 8's in the big win, our first ever European victory.

Win, 0-3, 2nd leg at London Road on Sept. 30
Shots/on target: Rio Ave 8/1, Posh 22/11
Poss: 51-49, Posh
A: 12,220

Villa draw away to Braga (POR), 1-1, Newcastle hammer Metalurg Donetsk at St. James's Park, 3-0, and Tottenham (qualifiers via the Inter-Toto Cup) destroy Athletic Bilbao 4-0 at White Hart Lane.

The win gets the board back to being "absolutely thrilled" with me.

[Butter]

EPL Round 7 results - Saturday
Man City 1:1 Liverpool
Boro 1:1 Palace
Arsenal 4:1 Hull
Portsmouth 0:2 Man U
Coventry 2:0 Fulham

Sept. 19, Match 6
3-1-1, 9th pl., 10 pts.
@ Chelsea (3-2-1, 6th pl., 11 pts.)
Series: Blues lead 4-1-1
Fav: Blues, Evens

Both teams have scored at least 2 goals in 4 of the last 5 encounters.... so this should be a good one.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Alex, Marcos, Zaccardo
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Gavilan, Mngomeni
Str: Mokoena, Cole

2'- Mokoena hobbles off thanks to a John Terry challenge... but returns 2 minutes later.

9'- A Damien Duff cross is headed clear by Marcos... Mngomeni ends up with it. He dribbles for 40 yards, then passes to Cole. Cole draws the defense, then passes to Mokoena, onside! Mokoena with the right footed shot, and it squeaks in past the right post! 1-0, Posh!

We dominate the 1st half, allowing Chelsea precious little room to operate. An impressive first half performance.... but still, Cole could've made it 2-0 on a breakaway in the 2nd stoppage minute of the first half, but Petr Cech stopped his shot.

49'- In typical Rob Styles fashion, he shows Jensen a 2nd yellow card, and we go down a man for the remainder. Kargbo enters for Cole, and we switch to 2 central defenders, and 3 defensive midfielders. We'll see how this works.

55'- Duff's corner... Lucio with the header from 4 yards, but Arenas with a fingertip save!

58'- Duff with a cross off a short corner... Arenas punches it away in traffic! Terry gathers, and finds Fernando Torres with a pinpoint pass at the penalty spot... Torres slots it home. 1-1.

71'- Damien Duff gets free on the left... he beats Zaccardo, then crosses in for Rosicky, who hits a great volley that beats Arenas. 2-1, Chelsea.

Down a man, this one is pretty much over. I have to try and equalize though, and move to long passing, and a marginally attacking style... I bring in Sneijder for Fernandes, and Balaban for Zaccardo. We play a 2 man back, and Kargbo in defensive midfield, and push nearly everyone else forward. I push our defenders up and deploy the offside trap against Chelsea to try and use their speed against them.

80'- Marcos with a good intervention, and the ball comes to Mokoena.... he dribbles upfield, past 2 defenders for 50 yards. Some nifty midfield passing later, we've got it at the top of the box. Balaban.... He beats Lucio through his legs, cuts left, and shoots back across to the right from 15 yards.... GOAL!!!! 2-2! Balaban with a great strike, and we are level!

81'- Duff with a cross, punched away by Arenas... Sneijder ends up with it at the other end, and his 30 yard effort is saved by Cech.

88'- Sneijder with a steal... then Rochemback back to Sneijder. Sneijder down the middle... unmolested. He finally gets resistance, and plays it square to Balaban. Bosko with a hopeful shot from 35 yards... and it goes in!!! I don't know what Petr Cech was doing there, but that was saveable. That's ok with me, though, we go up 3-2 a man down!

90+'- Mngomeni with a 50 yard dribble upfield... he plays to Balaban, to Sneijder, at the corner of the area. Sneijder advances, then crosses back post. Both Mokoena and Gavilan are there.... The experienced Paraguayan lets Mokoena have the chance, and he scores inside the left post! 4-2! A 3 goal barrage in 10 minutes with a man short!

The final whistle goes, and we get the improbable win! Lebohang Mokoena gets the MoM honors, rating an 8 and scoring his 4th and 5th goals of the season. Lots of 8's to go around... Gavilan gets a disappointing 6, but who cares? We notch a memorable win at Stamford Bridge, and jump back into the top 4.

Win, 2-4, up to 4th place
Shots/on target: Blues 8/5, Posh 19/10
Poss: 52-48, Posh
A: 37,758

Amazingly, Lebohang Mokoena scored those 2 goals with a broken nose he suffered in the early going. He'll miss 5 days, including our next match at home to Arsenal.

[Butter]

Alex, Rochemback, Sneijder, and Balaban are picked in the Team of the Week.

The Third Round Carling Cup draw is made, and we get a good one... a home game against Championship side Derby County. That game will be October 27.

Sept. 25, Match 7
4-1-1, 4th pl., 13 pts.
v. Arsenal (5-1-1, 2nd pl., 16 pts.)
Series: Gunners lead 2-1-1
Fav: Gunners, 4:5

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Alex, Marcos, Kargbo
Mid: Mascherano, Viana, Sneijder, Balaban
Str: Wallner, Cole

10'- Fabregas with a 25 yard effort that Arenas watches into the seats.

14'- Clichy with a nice floating cross that Henry heads, but Arenas with a tip over the bar.

19'- Viana's corner kick falls to Wallner at the right edge of the six... he turns, shoots, and it goes right off Thierry Henry and in! 1-0, Posh!

25'- Clichy's corner comes to Henry.... his powerful shot from 8 yards is parried by Arenas... the ball comes out to Clichy, who sends a great pass in to Cavenaghi... Bocanegra is late getting there, and he hits a well-placed shot past Arenas and in. 1-1.

39'- Arenas with a goal kick to Kargbo... he plays it back to Arenas, who is under pressure from Cavenaghi... Arenas tries to jink around him, but Cavenaghi gets the ball and is able to tap it home. Horrible play by Arenas. 2-1, Arsenal.

41'- A ball to Cavenaghi is headed to Henry... he plays it back to Cavenaghi, who is in on Arenas. Arenas deflects the shot, but Henry is there to clean it up. 3-1, Gunners.

52'- Wallner with an angled shot from 15 yards, it blazes over the bar.

57'- A pass by Mascherano is deflected by Vieira... but it comes to Viana, who plays the one-two with Balaban. Viana's shot from the top right of the box, and it beats Wiese somehow. It looked to be right at him, but he fails to keep it out, and we're given some hope. 3-2.

61'- Viana with a 35 yard free kick... it's headed clear. Balaban with it, he squares it to Viana, who has a go from 30 yards... and it nearly curls in! Acrobatic save by Wiese to keep it out.

69'- Mokoena in for Kargbo, and we switch to an aggressive 3-4-3.

76'- A Wallner cross is deflected to the middle... Mascherano lines up an open 18 yard shot... off the post!

79'- A long ball by Arenas is headed from Mokoena to Cole, who switches play to Viana on the left... Viana holds the ball near the touch line... then sends a long cross to Sneijder at the back post... his volley is saved by Wiese! Good play to tip it out for the corner.

Mngomeni in for a quiet Balaban.

88'- Lunt enters for Marcos, and we switch to a 2-4-4 and throw long balls forward.

Our final chance is a corner that comes in from Viana, but Cole can't control it and it bobbles out for a goal kick. Alex goes down on the play, and the final whistle goes on the restart. Arenas and Viana with 8's, but Arenas didn't have his best game here. Still, Arsenal is hot, and it's tough to beat Chelsea and Arsenal back to back.

Loss, 2-3, drop to 6th
Shots/on target: Posh 13/6, Gunners 14/7
Poss: 52-48, Gunners
A: 17,800

EPL Round 8 results
Liverpool 0:3 Chelsea
Villa 4:0 Blackburn
Hull 0:3 West Ham
Man U 2:0 So'ton
Norwich 1:0 Man City
Spurs 0:0 Coventry
Fulham 0:1 Portsmouth
Newcastle 1:0 Boro
Palace 1:1 Birmingham

Horrible news, as Alex has torn ankle ligaments, and will be out for 2 months. This season is not going very well so far, injury-wise.

[Butter]

We come to our 2nd leg of the UEFA Cup... our goal here will be to play some scrubs and pack our defense in. We will play very defensive to that end.

Sept. 30, UEFA Cup First Round, Second Leg
v. Rio Ave
First Leg: Rio Ave 0:3 Peterborough
Fav: Posh, 1:2

All we have to do is not lose 4-1 or worse to advance.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Svensson, Sarr, Kargbo
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Balaban, Lunt
Str: Wallner, Vagner

The first half zips by, and there are nearly no chances for either side. Our plan is working.

Wallner and Vagner are both injured slightly at the half, while Fernandes is rating a 4. We sub out Wallner and Fernandes for Mokoena and Mngomeni.

68'- A very long shot lacks power, and goes well wide of target for the Portuguese side.

75'- Mokoena and Mngomeni with some good combination play... Mngomeni ends up with a clear 12 yard shot, and it's saved nicely.

79'- A Rio Ave chance from 10 yards off a corner is hit a mile high.

We hold the ball and listen for the final whistle... it comes, and we take the tie with a boring 0-0 second leg draw. No one rates over a 7 for us, and the Rio Ave keeper is named MoM. But we advance to the next round.

Draw, 0-0 - Peterborough Utd. advance 3-0 on aggregate
Shots/on target: Posh 9/4, Rio Ave 7/0
Poss: 53-47, Posh
A: 7,124

Apparently the crowd stays away in droves for our 1st ever European competition. I imagine the 3-0 aggregate score coming in held down the attendance.

We win $110k for advancing. All 3 of the other English teams also advance fairly easily.

The set-up for the next round is odd.... the UEFA Cup has group play now, but there are 8 groups of 5, and you only play the other teams in the group once. AND you only have to be in the top 3 to advance to the First Knockout Round. You win $160k per win, and $40k per draw, so the prize money for a win is not insignificant.

UEFA Cup Group Stage Draw
We are drawn into Group B, not an easy group. Our group-mates will be Real Madrid, PAOK (Greece), Lokomotiv Moscow, and Wisla (Poland). Both R. Madrid and Wisla have been to the Champions League fairly recently.
The matches shake out like this:
Oct. 21 - v. Wisla
Nov. 4 - @ Lokomotiv Moscow
Nov. 25 - v. R. Madrid
Dec. 1 - @ PAOK
At least we get Real Madrid at home.

We are awarded $800k for participating in the UEFA Cup Group Stage.

[Butter]

Next up, Hull, who absolutely ripped through League One in my first season as manager, and finally they completed their Premiership journey last season... but they seemed destined to be a one-season wonder.

EPL Round 9 results - Saturday
Chelsea 2:0 Norwich
Man City 1:1 Palace
So'ton 0:0 Fulham

Oct. 3, Match 8
4-1-2, 8th pl., 13 pts.
v. Hull (0-3-5, 19th pl., 3 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 2-3-1
Fav: Posh, 4:6

We go with attacking tactics against an inferior opponent at home.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Marcos, Sarr, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Viana
Str: Mokoena, Cole

7'- Mascherano steals a throw-in, and the ball is worked over to Mngomeni, who tries his luck from 18 yards, and his shot is tipped onto the woodwork... Cole is there, but the ball is hammered away from him.

24'- Cole with a high cross to the middle... Mokoena somehow is able to direct the ball goalward, but it is saved.

39'- Mngomeni with a couple of nice moves on the left wing to get around his man and get the cross in just ahead of the end line... Cole with a glorious chance, a free header from 6 yards, but keeper Paddy Kenny with a fingertip save.

46'- 50 seconds after the restart, the ball works its way to Hugo Viana, who shoots from 20 yards... the shot starts about 5 yards to the left of the right goalpost, then it just bends right back into the top corner.... and in! A great strike by Hugo Viana, and we lead it 1-0.

59'- Viana with another long distance shot, this one takes a deflection on its way to goal, but Kenny with the nice adjustment to make the save.

65'- Hull get a clean breakaway after two defenders converge on the ball and leave a man through on goal... but he misses the target with the shot... and we switch to defensive, counter-attacking tactics. Balaban enters for a tiring Viana.

73'- Balaban with a steal in midfield... he squares it to Cole. Cole runs with the ball to about 25 yards... then he holds it up a bit... Hull backs off him, and he shoots from there, and bends it in! Cole with a rare long distance goal, and we put this one on ice!

Kargbo enters for Cole, Lunt on for Sneijder as we switch to a 4-5-1.

90'- Mokoena with a great cross to Lunt, who has a free chance from 10 yards just to the right of goal, but he completely misses the target.

The final whistle goes, and we take the relatively sweat-free win. Carlton Cole earns a 9 and MoM, while Sneijder and Viana pick up 8's.

Win, 2-0, up to 5th place
Shots/on target: Posh 18/12, Tigers 3/1
Poss: 59-41, Posh
A: 17,782

EPL Round 9 results - Sunday/Monday
Coventry 0:2 West Ham
Birmingham 1:1 Newcastle
Boro 1:1 Villa
Portsmouth 0:1 Spurs
Blackburn 0:2 Man U
Arsenal 4:0 Liverpool

Manchester United continue to benefit from the regime change at Old Trafford... they've scored 22 goals and yielded ONE in 9 matches. They have 25 points out of a possible 27 so far, and lead Arsenal by 3 points. We're just one point behind 3rd place Chelsea, and the same behind 4th place Norwich (who will cool off, I'm sure).

[Butter]

Cole is named to the Team of the Week.

Wesley Sneijder breaks a wrist in training and will miss 3 weeks or so of action.

Luckily, we get 10 days off after this next match... as Alex, Zaccardo, and Heitinga are unavailable for this match, as is our preferred starting right winger, Wesley Sneijder.

Oct. 6, Match 9
5-1-2, 5th pl., 16 pts.
v. Manchester City (1-3-4, 16th pl., 6 pts.)
Series: Citizens lead 3-1-1
Fav: Posh, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Marcos, Kargbo, Jensen
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Gavilan, Gerard
Str: Wallner, Balaban

11'- Rochemback just runs through Adrian Mutu on a ball into the box, and a penalty is given.... fortunately, Rochemback stays on the field, as he already had a yellow card. Defender Danny Mills takes the penalty, but he hits it weakly and right at Arenas.... saved.

Our attack tightens up after a horrid first half-hour... but we send 3 long shots well wide in 7 minutes.

39'- A long ball is flicked on to Adrian Mutu who is onside... Arenas with great anticipation to molest Mutu right as he comes into the area, then the defense recovers and force a tight angle shot into the side netting.

52'- Jean-Alain Boumsong with a totally free 10 yard volley off a corner kick, but he hits it right at Arenas. Horrible marking there, but it doesn't cost us.

56'- Rochemback picks up a second yellow card, and yet another red for a bad tackle. Rochemback is skating on thin ice with me at the moment. We move Gerard back to the center circle, and play a flat 4-3-2 with defensive, counter-attacking tactics.

63'- Lunt in for Fernandes, Mokoena replaces Gerard.

66'- Mokoena with the ball in the center, he lays it back for Jensen, who then goes over the top to Balaban... a perfect long ball into Balaban's run... he attacks the Man City keeper, and slots it home. 1-0, Posh! The Man City keeper is promptly subbed out.

69'- Mutu with an 8 yard header from a cross in, over the bar.

73'- Mokoena with a pass to Wallner... he dribbles past Boumsong as if he's not even there, and slots it home from 15 yards. 2-0, Posh! Both goals coming a man down.... this is the finest counter-attacking team I've ever seen.

83'- Roman Wallner is slightly injured, so I bring in El Karkouri for him.

Bosko Balaban earns MoM with an 8 and a goal... Arenas and Wallner also with 8's. I guess I'll have to make sure Rochemback is instructed to turn down his intensity when he's in. He just doesn't know how to ratchet it down, it seems.

Win, 2-0, up to 3rd place
Shots/on target: Posh 15/8, Citizens 9/2
Poss: 52-48, Citizens
A: 17,802

EPL mid-week fixtures
Birmingham 2:1 Norwich
Blackburn 2:0 Newcastle
So'ton 2:1 Villa
West Ham 0:2 Spurs

The league takes the weekend off thanks to Euro 2012 qualifying matches.

[Butter]

Bosko Balaban scores a goal in Croatia's 5-0 rout of Malta.... Hugo Viana plays 20 minutes in Portugal's 1-0 road win over Kazakhstan.

Oct. 16, Match 10
6-1-2, 3rd pl., 19 pts.
@ Liverpool (3-2-3, 12th pl., 11 pts.)
Series: Even, 2-0-2
Fav: Reds, Evens

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Marcos, Sarr, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Balaban, Gerard
Str: Mokoena, Cole

11'- Hugo Viana with a great corner kick, and Cole gets a head to it at 5 yards but it goes over the net.

21'- Shaun Wright-Phillips with a nice individual move to create some space, then a tough angle shot goes in off the post. 1-0, Reds. He used Sinama-Pongolle as a decoy, and kept it himself for the 8 yard strike.

25'- Mokoena is onside and through on goal, but keeper Chris Kirkland with a nice kick save.

33'- A long throw-in is headed by Alan Smith, and placed just out of Arenas' reach. 2-0, Liverpool.

45'- Cole with a 15 yard chance, but Kirkland again with a nice save.

We switch to attacking tactics and seek to up the tempo in the second have. Mascherano is moved to central midfield.

55'- Kallstrom with a strong 8 yard volley, but Arenas deflects it clear.

60'- Wallner in for Zaccardo, and we switch to a 3-4-3.

72'- Marcos and Arenas make a hash of a Mascherano back pass, and Djibril Cisse pounces on the chance and scores. 3-0, Reds.

We back into defensive tactics to avoid getting killed further. Not our finest hour. Arenas and Cole with 6's... we just didn't show up for this game.

Loss, 3-0, drop to 5th
Shots/on target: Reds 18/9, Posh 10/4
Poss: 56-44, Reds
A: 49,431

EPL Round 10 results
Palace 0:2 Chelsea
Fulham 1:1 Blackburn
Hull 3:0 Coventry
Man U 3:0 Boro
Norwich 2:0 Arsenal
West Ham 0:2 Portsmouth
Newcastle 2:0 Man City
Villa 3:2 Birmingham
Spurs 0:2 So'ton

One day before the Spurs match, Southampton sacked manager Joe Kinnear. The Saints then went out and climbed out of the bottom 3 with a win at White Hart Lane.

[Butter]

Reserve winger Marco Ingrao complains twice in one week about wanting to be in the first team... and the Posh website conducted a poll where only 12% of respondents backed Ingrao's complaints. Then 2 days later, Ingrao fails to turn up for practice, and I have to warn him (which he accepts "without comment").

Oct. 21, UEFA Cup Group B - Televised
v. Wisla (from Krakow, Poland - beat TVMK of Estonia 4-3 on agg. to advance to Group Stage)
Fav: Posh, 5:4

Lineup (defensive, counter-attacking tactics):
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Kargbo, Svensson, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Gavilan, Gerard
Str: Wallner, Cole

4'- Bocanegra with a great ball down the line for Mngomeni... he runs with the ball, then crosses short for Wallner, who settles from 12 yards, and shoots far post... GOAL! 1-0, Posh!

Wisla actually control the remainder of the half, but their finishing is horrible and lacks imagination. We take our goal lead into the final 45.

49'- Cole with possession in midfield... he hits it up the right touch line to Gavilan. Gavilan down the right, his cross is deflected, but right to Cole who volleys from 18 yards out... and it goes in! Carlton Cole's 50th Posh goal is another long-range screamer, and we take a 2-0 lead!

55'- Wallner is free on the keeper, but it is deflected clear.

63'- A cross in is deflected, but right to a Wisla striker at 10 yards... Arenas with a good save. The deflection falls to a midfielder, who volleys from 10 yards and it squeaks past Arenas and in. 2-1.

Jensen in for a dinged up Bocanegra.

72'- Hugo Viana in for Gerard.

85'- After 2 minutes of up-and-down action, Thando Mngomeni is run over at the edge of the area.... Viana steps up to take the 20 yarder, and powers it in past the flailing keeper. 3-1, Posh!

That late goal helps us immensely, as we take the lead in the group. Diego Gavilan wins MoM honors with an 8... Arenas, Zaccardo, and Mngomeni with 8's as well.

Win, 3-1, in 1st place of Group
Shots/on target: Posh 12/7, Wisla 10/5
Poss: 50-50
A: 12,987

In the other Group B match, PAOK and Lokomotiv Moscow fight to a 0-0 draw in Greece, while Real Madrid is idle, so we start the Group stage in front of our group.

We also get $160k for the win.

[Butter]

Heitinga comes back from injury, and in his first training he strains his groin, which will be another 2 weeks. I ask the physios about him -- they suggest therapy, so he'll likely miss another month in rehab.

EPL Round 11 results - Saturday
Arsenal 1:1 Palace
Birmingham 1:2 Man U
Liverpool 0:0 Hull
Portsmouth 2:1 Coventry
So'ton 1:3 West Ham

Oct. 24, Match 11
6-1-3, 5th pl., 19 pts.
v. Norwich (6-2-2, 4th pl., 20 pts.)
Series: Canaries lead 2-1-1
Fav: Posh, 5:4

Lineup (defensive, counter-attacking tactics):
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Bocanegra, Marcos, Sarr
Mid: Rochemback, Lunt, Balaban, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

16'- Wallner with a hard 25 yard shot that screams over the bar.

42'- Norwich midfielder Barry Ferguson with a 25 yarder of his own that bends away from Arenas... but he gets to it and makes the save.

54'- Viana with a patented 30 yard shot, but the Norwich keeper is there.

71'- Gavilan on for Viana.... Mokoena enters for Rochemback and moves to central midfield. Balaban moves to the attacking midfield role.

77'- Mngomeni in for Kenny Lunt.

84'- We get a taste of our own medicine, as a steal in midfield leads to a glorious chance for substitute Jamie Chapman... Chapman gets in on Arenas and powers it past him. 1-0, Canaries.

90+'- In the 4th minute of stoppage time, Jensen gets free in the box and sends a cross into traffic... Cole is there, and his header is... off the post! Then off the keeper's leg and out for a corner! Argh!

The whistle finally goes after nearly 6 minutes of added time... and we take another loss. 4 losses already in league was certainly not in the cards this season... we're not playing particularly well right now. Arenas gets the MoM award for his 9 in goal, but there were lots of 6's and lackluster performances to go around as well.

Loss, 0-1, drop to 6th
Shots/on target: Posh 13/2, Canaries 6/5
Poss: 57-43, Posh
A: 16,759

EPL Round 11 results - Sunday
Boro 2:0 Fulham
Blackburn 0:0 Spurs
Man City 2:2 Villa
Chelsea 2:0 Newcastle

The top now looks like this:
1. Man U - 31 pts., +25
2. Arsenal - 23, +13
3. Chelsea - 23, +12
4. Norwich - 23, +7
5. Aston Villa - 19, +8
6. Peterborough Utd. - 19, +7
7. Newcastle - 18, +7
8. West Ham - 16, +1

We're sinking fast. Two straight league losses is not a trend I enjoy. Next up, we take a day off from the league to play in the League Cup.

[Butter]

Oct. 27, League Cup Third Round
v. Derby County (7th in Championship)
Series: Posh lead 3-0-1
Fav: Posh, 4:5

We promote a couple of guys from the reserves to start in this one. Including 21 year old wunderkind Milciades Omar Bellomo, the terrific looking Ethiopian right-winger. And 22 year old Portuguese striker Rafael Santos. We go with straight-up attacking tactics against the Rams.
Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Svensson, El Karkouri, Gavilan
Mid: Arzo, Ingrao, Bellomo, Mngomeni
Str: Vagner, Santos

Santos with a couple of early chances, but both are hit well high of the target.

11'- Bellomo with a wide open net from 12 yards off a rebound, but he doesn't hit it cleanly, and it comes off a leg to safety for Derby.

30'- Santos is played through by Mngomeni, but he shoots too quickly and it's saved.

Kargbo and Mokoena in for underperforming El Karkouri and Santos at the interval.

58'- Vagner with a 25 yard free kick... off the post! Svensson on the rebound, right at the keeper! The rebound bounces to Bellomo, who tries to center it instead of finish it, and the ball is gathered by the Ram keeper.

60'- Jensen with an early cross for Mokoena... but Lebohang dummies the header, and the keeper nearly allows the ball to go straight into the net... but he is there just barely to tip it out.

62'- Mokoena with a powerful drive from 20 yards, tipped over the bar. Ingrao's corner swings out to 5 yards, and Mokoena with a header straight into the back of the net! A great set piece goal! 1-0, Posh.

87'- A long ball gets behind the Posh defense, but Kargbo with a vital intervention to keep the attacker from being in clean on Grant.

The final whistle goes, and we take the win. Not a pretty victory, but it was good enough. Thando Mngomeni with a great game in the center of attack, rating a 10. Gavilan and Mokoena also pick up 8's in the win.

Win, 1-0, advance to Fourth Round
Shots/on target: Posh 28/13, Rams 4/1
Poss: 51-49, Posh
A: 5,891

We get $52,000 for the win.

[Butter]

We get a mediocre draw for the Fourth Round of the League Cup, as we will host a match... but will have to face Manchester United on November 10.

Oct. 30, Match 12
6-1-4, 6th pl., 19 pts.
@ Crystal Palace (3-6-2, 10th pl., 15 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 2-4-0
Fav: Posh, 6:4

Lineup (def., counter-attacking tactics):
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Sarr, Marcos, Jensen
Mid: Mascherano, Lunt, Balaban, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

Our counter-attacking tactics dominate the first half... but neither team can score. Our best chance comes in the 41st, as Viana hits a great through ball to Cole, who shoots at Gabor Kiraly... Kiraly with a fingertip save, and the ball rolls tantalizingly close to the goal... but it hits the post, sits there for a second, and an Eagle defender swoops in to clear.

66'- Viana with a steal, and he immediately hits it long to Carlton Cole... Cole is clean through... he attacks Kiraly... Kiraly gets a finger to the ball to knock it slightly away, but Cole keeps his balance, and fires it into the back of the net! 1-0, Posh! Cole's 50th league goal in Posh blue.

72'- Sneijder in for Lunt, Kargbo on for a cautioned Marcos.

76'- Collins John with a 12 yard shot... deflected wide, but Andy Johnson swoops in... deflected by Kargbo! And the ball is hoisted away! Good defense.

78'- American Steve Cherundolo with a long ball, stolen by Kargbo... Viana again hits it ahead to Cole. Cole out-races the defense to the ball, then chips the keeper from the edge of the area... it hits the left post and goes in! Great goal by Cole, and we lead 2-0!

Despite the 2 goals by Cole, Hugo Viana gets MoM honors and a 10 for setting them up. Cole with a 9, and Arenas, Jensen, Bocanegra, and Balaban pick up 8's.

Win, 0-2, up to 5th
Shots/on target: Eagles 11/4, Posh 14/7
Poss: 53-47, Eagles
A: 23,727

EPL Round 12 results
Man U 2:0 Man City
Villa 0:0 Chelsea
Fulham 0:2 Birmingham
Newcastle 2:1 Arsenal
Norwich 1:3 Liverpool
Spurs 0:1 Boro
West Ham 1:1 Blackburn
Hull 2:0 Portsmouth
Coventry 2:1 So'ton

Coventry climb from 18th to 16th with the win, and put Southampton into 17th. Man City, Blackburn, and Fulham are now the bottom 3.

[Butter]

Viana and Cole are picked in the Team of the Week.

I am 3rd in the Manager of the Month voting.

Nov. 4, UEFA Cup Group B - Match 2 - Televised
@ Lokomotiv Moscow (3rd in Group B, 0-1-0, 1 pt.)
Fav: Lokomotiv, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Svensson, Marcos, Jensen
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Mokoena, Cole

A tight first half that sees very few chances put on target... our only shot on goal was a Mokoena 15 yarder in the 32nd minute that trickled past the keeper, but was cleared by Lokomotiv's sweeper.

48'- Mngomeni's free kick from the left finds Mokoena... his header is reflexively stopped by the keeper... Cole's follow-up is deflected out for a corner.

62'- A 10 yard chance off a deflection seems destined for the back of the net, but Arenas with a terrific save.

70'- Viana on for Gerard.

80'- Balaban in for Cole.

No more chances either way... a pretty boring game, but we get what we need from it... a point. Neither team seemed able to get their chances on target, but we feel pretty good in having been outplayed and still earning a point from this match.

Draw, 0-0, remain in 1st place in Group B
Shots/on target: Moscow 17/6, Posh 11/3
Poss: 51-49, Lokomotiv
A: 16,915

We get $40k for the draw. In other Group B action, Real Madrid beat PAOK in Spain, 2-0 to move into 2nd place in the Group. Moscow is 3rd with 2 points from 2 games, and PAOK and Wisla round out the action.

We host Real Madrid in our next UEFA Cup match... one that could decide the group.

[Butter]

Mark Hughes is hired on as manager at Southampton... he was sacked as manager of Blackburn in late 2005... and most recently sacked as manager of the Welsh national team directly after the 2010 World Cup.

EPL Round 13 results - Saturday
Blackburn 1:1 Coventry
Liverpool 2:3 Palace
Man City 2:2 Fulham
Boro 3:1 West Ham
Norwich 2:1 Hull

Blackburn sack their current manager Dave Jones after failing to beat recently promoted Coventry in their last match. Rovers continue to languish in the relegation zone 13 games into the season... but 1 win would pull them out.

Nov. 7, Match 13
7-1-4, 5th pl., 22 pts.
v. Newcastle United (6-3-3, 6th pl., 21 pts.)
Series: Even, 2-0-2
Fav: Magpies, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Marcos, Svensson, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Balaban, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

11'- A corner kick falls right to defender Andy O'Brien at the edge of the 6 yard box, but Arenas with a good save to tip it out.

16'- Viana squares a 30 yard free kick to Mascherano, who advances and shoots from 25 yards, and nearly scores... it skims off the bar and out.

26'- DaMarcus Beasley with a 20 yard shot that Arenas handles easily.

34'- Mascherano leaves with an injury on a rough challenge... Kargbo in for him.

Both Cole and Wallner are rating 5's at the halftime break. I leave them both in for a bit longer.

60'- Jermaine Jenas with a fierce 25 yard shot, but it's off target.

66'- Mokoena on for Cole, and we bring in Sneijder for Wallner, move him to the right wing and put Balaban up front at striker.

68'- Bocanegra with a long throw-in to Marcos... he heads it from 8 yards, and somehow gets a good bit of power on it, and puts it past the keeper! Great goal by Marcos, and we lead it 1-0!

70'- Zaccardo with a steal, up to Hugo Viana... Viana with a great ball to Sneijder on the right, who one-times a pass to Mokoena ahead of the pack.... Mokoena is one-v-one, but his shot is stopped... the rebound falls to Balaban, but it's tackled away from him at the last moment, out for a corner. The ensuing corner is headed away... Mngomeni gathers, and shoots from 20 yards, but it's deflected to Viana... Viana with a short pass to Balaban at the edge of the area... he has his back to goal, and gets pushed over... it's a penalty!! Balaban earns a chance to seal this one! Mokoena with a short run-up... it's in! 2-0, Posh!

77'- Sneijder breaks free, and is 5 yards ahead of the pack on a great ball by Balaban... his shot is just barely tipped aside.

83'- Kewell with a great cross to Jenas, who heads it with power, but Arenas is well placed to parry it away.

We fail to convert 2 more breakaways, but take the 2-0 win. Arenas had a terrific game, and he is rewarded with an 8 rating and MoM honors. Viana and Balaban also with 8's. Luckily, our reserve strike force performed well, or this well could've been a scoreless draw with the lifeless performances from Wallner and Cole.

Win, 2-0, up to 3rd place
Shots/on target: Posh 14/9, Magpies 15/5
Poss: 50-50
A: 17,793

Round 13 results - Sunday
Chelsea 0:1 Man U
Arsenal 1:1 Villa
Birmingham 3:0 Spurs
So'ton 4:2 Portsmouth

We pass Chelsea and Arsenal, and nestle ourselves 1 point behind 2nd place Norwich (!) thanks to Sunday's results. Man U is still unbeaten, now in 13. They've allowed 2 goals all season so far.

[Butter]

Javier Mascherano is down for 4 weeks with a badly sprained ankle. Rochemback is out of action for just a couple more days with an injured elbow, so it looks like he and Kargbo will split time at DM in Mascherano's action.

Nov. 10, League Cup Fourth Round - Televised
v. Manchester United (1st in Premiership)
Series: Red Devils lead 4-0-1
Fav: MUFC, 4:6

Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Svensson, Marcos, Sarr
Mid: Kargbo, Fernandes, Lunt, Mngomeni
Str: Vagner, Mokoena

5'- Darren Fletcher with a glorious free chance from 12 yards, but he hits the shot wide.

16'- Svensson wins a header, back to Marcos... Marcos ahead to Lunt, to Mngomeni in the center circle. Mngomeni to Fernandes, in space down the left... he crosses to Mokoena, who is alone at 12 yards... he shoots far post... and scores! 1-0, Posh!

29'- Mngomeni has it tackled away in midfield, it falls to Fernandes... ahead to Lunt, who plays a ball onto Vagner's run... Vagner with a 20 yard shot... it goes off the underside of the crossbar and in! 2-0, Posh! Great start! Vagner's 1st goal of the year.

51'- Silvestre with a pinpoint early ball to Wayne Rooney... Rooney with a half volley from 12 yards, Grant with a fingertip save... but Ivica Olic is there to tap in the rebound. 2-1.

67'- Djemba Djemba with the throw-in to Rooney... Rooney with a square ball to sub. defender Michael Senior... he shoots from 20 yards, and Grant doesn't see it until it's too late... 2-2. 23 year old Senior with his first ever senior goal for Man U.

72'- Viana in for Fernandes, and Mngomeni moves to the left wing... Sneijder on for Lunt.

83'- Wallner in for Vagner.

The 90 minutes ends, and we go to extra time.

100'- Viana has to leave with an injury, so we go a man down.

Both back lines get tired, and start grabbing and tripping to avoid yielding any chances... the fouls go way up, but after 120 minutes, we're still square.

PK's:
Round 1
Posh: Mokoena - good
Man U: Cristiano Ronaldo - good
Round 2
Posh: Sneijder - saved
Man U: Olic - good
Round 3
Posh: Mngomeni - saved
Man U: Rio Ferdinand - saved
Round 4
Posh: Kargbo - missed wide
Man U: Djemba Djemba - saved
Round 5
Posh: Jensen - saved

Man U win, 2-1 on PK's. Left winger Stewart Downing wins MoM for Man U.... no one rates above a 7 for us, Grant gets a 6 in goal.

Loss, 2-2 (Man U win 2-1 on PK's), out of League Cup
Shots/on target: Posh 11/5, Red Devils 12/4
Poss: 56-44, Man U
A: 14,313

Viana should not miss much time with his injury, just a strained neck.

[Butter]

Marco Ingrao turns up absent from training again, and gets a 2 week fine, which he accepts without comment. Also, Cesar Arzo has started trying to pull the same crap... he gets a warning, then a 2 week fine for his second offense this week. Arzo acknowledges that his behavior was unprofessional. Whoopee.

Carlton Cole is called up to the England squad to replace James Beattie. He still has never made an appearance for England, but has been on the bench in 3 matches.

Left winger Stewart Downing breaks his leg for Manchester United, and will miss 7 months. I secretly cheer at their misfortune.

Defender John Heitinga is back from physiotherapy, and I put him into pre-season training to try and regain his fitness... maybe to return v. Real Madrid this week.

Arsenal win the early game of the day, and pass us momentarily into 2nd place.

Nov. 20, Match 14
8-1-4, 4th pl., 25 pts.
@ Aston Villa (5-6-2, 6th pl., 21 pts.)
Series: Even, 2-0-2
Fav: Villans, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Marcos, Svensson, Zaccardo
Mid: Rochemback, Viana, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Mokoena, Cole

6'- A goal kick is headed by Martin Laursen right to Eidur Gudjohnsen, who is in the left of the box... he shoots from a nearly impossible angle and bends it around Arenas and in. This is about the 5th time this same type of BS goal has been scored on us. 1-0, Villa.

10'- A free kick from Villa's half comes in to about 25 yards... Arenas for some reason comes charging out, then the ball is headed right to Steed Malbranque, who has an open goal to shoot at from a right-side angle at 15 yards, but he doesn't miss. 2-0. What the hell was Arenas doing?

12'- Cole gets free, but his sharp angle shot blazes over.

21'- A Villa corner comes in to about 8 yards... Zaccardo tries to tackle it away, but puts it in his own goal. 3-0.

Looks like this one's gonna need a tape-burning.

27'- Zaccardo with a flat giveaway to Gudjohnsen, who heads in free on Arenas, but luckily the shot is wide.

42'- We get a good counter-attack that ends with Viana slipping a ball through to Cole, and he finishes first time to make it 3-1.

45+'- In the first minute of stoppage time in the first half, Gerard with a great ball to Cole, who is free on Sorensen again... he moves easily past him and scores.... Carlton Cole is having a stormer, but we still take a 3-2 deficit into halftime.

Rochemback comes out for Kargbo at the half. He was rating a 5.

58'- Janczyk's fierce 20 yarder skims over the bar.

64'- Viana with a nice ball to Mokoena down the left... Mokoena crosses to Sneijder, who passes up an 8 yarder to square for Gerard... Gerard's attempt is over the bar.

71'- Wallner in for Mokoena.

75'- A goal kick for Villa... Zaccardo with a header in the center circle, onto Cole... Cole with 2 defenders on him... his shot takes a deflection, and flies helplessly over Sorensen... and in!!! Cole with a hat trick to level the match at 3! What a comeback!

82'- Mngomeni in for a tiring Viana.

The final whistle goes, and Man of the Match Carlton Cole single-handedly earns us an improbable draw with a perfect 10 performance and a hat trick. Arenas recovers to earn an 8 with a good 2nd half... and Gerard also gets an 8.

Draw, 3-3, remain in 4th
Shots/on target: Villans 16/8, Posh 13/5
Poss: 56-44, Villans
A: 37,780

EPL Round 14 results
Man U 1:2 Arsenal
Fulham 0:2 Chelsea
Hull 1:3 So'ton
Newcastle 3:3 Liverpool
Portsmouth 3:2 Blackburn
Spurs 4:1 Man City
Coventry 2:0 Boro
Palace 2:0 Norwich
West Ham 1:1 Birmingham

We pass Norwich with our draw and their loss, but are passed ourselves by Arsenal and Chelsea, both of whom are now 1 point ahead of us. Man U suffer their first defeat of the year.

[Butter]

Heitinga twists a knee in training, and will miss another week of action.... including this key UEFA Cup match.

We really get to see where we are in comparison to the elite of Europe with this match. And we start the first XI to see where exactly that is.

Nov. 24, UEFA Cup Group B - Match 3 - Televised
1-1-0 in group, 1st pl., 4 pts.
v. Real Madrid (1-0-0 in group, 2nd pl., 3 pts.)
Fav: Galacticos, 4:5

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Marcos, Sarr, Zaccardo
Mid: Kargbo, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

2'- Viana with a weak 20 yarder that is gathered in easily by Iker Casillas.

6'- David Beckham's 20 yard free kick is high.

10'- Mngomeni's cross in to Wallner is headed wide from 8 yards.

15'- Ronaldo with a 25 yard free kick that bends a bit too much and goes wide.

27'- A great combination of passes ends with Cole slotting it home... but Wallner was offside on the previous pass.

35'- Viana with a nice ball into the penalty spot... Wallner is upended, but no whistle!

37'- Cole gets free just inside the box, and shoots quickly, but it goes wide.

42'- Cole with a 12 yard shot... deflected wide... Kargbo gathers on the right, and swings a cross into the near post... Wallner with a powerful header, Casillas with a tip save! Wallner with the 8 yard follow-up... charged down and a corner is yielded! Great play from both sides in the Madrid box.

57'- Viana's 25 yard free kick... off the wall, and Casillas with a tip save! Sarr with the follow-up, right into Casillas' stomach, and the rebound is cleared.

71'- Mokoena in for Cole... Gerard on for Hugo Viana.

74'- Bocanegra goes long to Mokoena, who heads to Wallner... Wallner with an innocuous pass to Mngomeni... Mngomeni with a long low drive from 35 yards... and it beats Casillas, hits the far post and goes in!!! What a strike! We take the 1-0 lead!

81'- Mokoena is played through... but Casillas does very well to stop his 10 yard effort.

86'- Rey gets through on our defense... Zaccardo can't recover, but Arenas bails us out with a great save.

90'- Raul Bravo tries his luck from 35 yards, but Arenas watches it sail wide.

They throw 5 men forward, but are unable to keep possession long enough to string any chances together... after 3 stoppage minutes, the final whistle goes, and we have beaten Real Madrid! Walter Samuel wins MoM in Madrid's defense... but Arenas, Zaccardo, and Mngomeni pick up 8's in our winning effort. Aside from the final scoreline, it was a dominating performance by the Posh!

Win, 1-0, remain in 1st in Group B
Shots/on target: Posh 22/14, Galacticos 5/3
Poss: 60-40, Posh
A: 17,803

The crowd turns out for this game, as we beat one of the most fabled European franchises. Lokomotiv Moscow beat Wisla 2-0 to move into 2nd place. We all but clinch moving on to the next stage with this win, as PAOK would have to win their last 2 matches, and we'd have to lose to them by a large margin for them to overtake us.

We win $160k for the stage victory, and also spark protests at Madrid's home stadium, wanting the manager sacked.

The gate receipts of $1 million is a record high for a single match, as is the attendance of 17,803 our highest ever.

[Butter]

EPL Round 15 results - Saturday
Arsenal 1:0 Fulham
Blackburn 0:2 So'ton
Palace 2:0 Hull
Man City 0:1 West Ham
Boro 3:0 Portsmouth

Nov. 28, Match 15
8-2-4, 4th pl., 26 pts.
v. Manchester United (12-1-1, 1st pl., 37 pts.)
Series: Red Devils lead 4-1-1
Fav: MUFC, 4:6

We get a chance for revenge for our League Cup loss.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Marcos, Bocanegra, Zaccardo
Mid: Kargbo, Fernandes, Gavilan, Gerard
Str: Mokoena, Balaban

11'- Diego Gavilan is out of the game injured, forcing Wesley Sneijder into long-term substitute action.

22'- First real chance of the game is a 10 yard Ivica Olic header that is well high.

24'- Mokoena with a long ball to Balaban... it's 50/50 between Balaban and the keeper, Stekelenburg... Balaban gets his toe in first, pokes it away from a prone Stekelenburg, and is left with a simple finish! 1-0, Posh!

Not much happens through the interval, as our defense keeps Man U out of our box.

55'- Bocanegra with a header away to Sneijder... in the center to Fernandes, who has room to operate. Fernandes with a ball ahead back to Sneijder, who is through... Sneijder with a chip attempt from 20 yards... and it goes in!!! The crowd is into hysteria as we lead the league leaders 2-0!

67'- Mokoena with a long square ball to Balaban... he has a long run up and fires from the arc, but he puts too much power into it and can't control it.

72'- Mokoena to Sneijder, to Balaban with space in the center... Balaban has time, cuts left, then tries to slot with his right foot... Stekelenburg can't reach it, and it goes in!!! Balaban's 5th of the season puts us ahead 3-0!

75'- Rochemback on for Kargbo.

81'- Some nifty passing ends with Djemba Djemba taking a 15 yard shot, and putting it inside the far post. 3-1.

84'- A long cross from Schweinsteiger to Ivica Olic... he has room from 12 yards, and hits a terrifically placed shot past Arenas... 3-2. Uh-oh.

89'- Miccoli beats Jensen and leaves him flat-footed... he looks to have beaten Arenas, and the shot does get past him, but Rochemback covers and clears off the line!

Luckily for us, we play solid defense through the 4 stoppage minutes, and avoid the embarrassment of losing a 3 goal lead in the final 10 minutes. Lebohang Mokoena earns MoM and an 8 for his impressive performance... Arenas, Zaccardo, Gerard, Balaban, and Sneijder also pick up 8's.

Win, 3-2, up to 3rd place
Shots/on target: Posh 15/7, Man U 9/7
Poss: 52-48, Posh
A: 17,785

EPL Round 15 results - Sunday
Birmingham 3:0 Coventry
Liverpool 3:3 Villa
Norwich 1:2 Newcastle
Chelsea 1:1 Spurs

The Chelsea draw allows us to move into 3rd place... Arsenal are now 7 points behind Man U for 1st place, on 30 pts., and we lurk just one point behind the Gunners in 3rd.

[Butter]

Diego Gavilan suffered a fractured arm in the last match, that'll keep him sidelined for 3 weeks.

Gerard is picked in the Team of the Week.

Dec. 1, UEFA Cup Group B - Match 4 - Televised
2-1-0, 1st pl. in group, 7 pts.
@ PAOK (0-1-1, 4th pl., 1 pt.)
Fav: Posh, 5:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Svensson, Marcos, Sarr
Mid: Kargbo, Mngomeni, Lunt, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

15'- Mngomeni with a great pass to Wallner against PAOK's disorganized back 4... Wallner outruns his marker, and hits a ferocious strike inside the far post... 1-0, Posh!

18'- Viana with a nice pass to Cole... Cole with a move past 2 defenders, then he slots it home easily! 2-0, Posh!

33'- Viana with a 25 yard effort that is parried wide.

PAOK controls play for about 15 minutes, but they lack finishing power.

64'- Some great ball control, ending with Viana sliding a through ball to Wallner... and Wallner with a powerful finish, his second of the game puts this one away at 3-0.

80'- Rochemback enters for Cole.

Roman Wallner earns a 10 and MoM for his classy performance. We just outclassed PAOK for all 90 minutes. Nearly every starter finishes with an 8 rating. Again, we earn $160k for the match victory.

Win, 0-3, clinch Group win
Shots/on target: PAOK 12/4, Posh 17/11
Poss: 57-43, PAOK
A: 24,172

The best anyone else in the group can do is 9 points now, so we clinch the group win with 10 points. R. Madrid hammer Wisla in Spain, 3-0. Peterborough, Real Madrid, and Lokomotiv Moscow all go through from our Group with one day of matches still to play.

EPL mid-week result
Liverpool 3:1 Birmingham
-The Reds continue to languish mid-table, as this win gets them up to 10th.

[Butter]

All would appear to be well at London Road. We just won our group in the UEFA Cup. We also just beat Manchester United to move into 3rd place in the league, in charge of our Champions League aspirations with a soft part of the schedule ahead.

But we're losing money. In bunches now. Our surplus has gone from $51 million just before the season began to just under $29 million. We have to keep winning to avoid a financial crisis. And, all things considered, our offseason signings for next year will probably be light... as we can't afford much more than we have on the roster right now. Our wage budget is right at the board-approved limit of $43 million... and our transfer budget still holds $18 million or so. Rich by most standards. But if we don't keep winning, things could go south rather quickly. We're getting a taste of what happens with dead salary right now, as Fabio Rochemback has been so bad lately that his $3 million in salary is just taking up space, as I can't really afford to play him, with his 6.6 average rating.

With January fast approaching, just who is going to be leaving us? The list of first-teamers whose contracts are up in June '11 (along with current salary):
28 year old DM Fabio Rochemback ($3,000,000)
27 year old AM-LC Hugo Viana ($850,000)
26 year old D-RC Sarr ($380,000)
34 year old D-C Talal El Karkouri ($500,000)
31 year old D-LC Carlos Bocanegra ($1,750,000)
31 year old AM-RL Fabrice Fernandes ($600,000)

Of these players, I want to re-sign Hugo Viana and Sarr. Bocanegra would be nice too, but defenders tend to take a nose dive right around 32/33 years of age. Sarr is a cheap backup and has been performing this year... his salary demands are only around $650,000 per year, affordable. But Hugo Viana wants a big pay increase, to in the neighborhood of $2.5 million per season. With Rochemback off the books, I could afford it... but I wouldn't be able to afford to sign much of anyone else. But with Viana's level of performance in the middle of attack, I don't know if I can afford to let him go. He is averaging a 7.33 and has 3 goals and 6 assists in just 12 starts and 3 sub appearances. He is slow as molasses, but a player of the highest quality... when he decides to perform and doesn't get worn out after 45 minutes. It's quite a quandary.

EPL Round 16 results - Saturday
Man U 2:1 Liverpool
Villa 2:0 Norwich
Coventry 0:1 Man City
Portsmouth 1:1 Birmingham
So'ton 0:1 Boro
Spurs 0:1 Arsenal
West Ham 0:2 Chelsea

Dec. 5, Match 16 - Televised
9-2-4, 4th pl., 29 pts.
@ Fulham (0-5-10, 20th pl., 5 pts.)
Series: Cottagers lead 3-3-0
Fav: Posh, 4:5

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Svensson, El Karkouri, Sarr
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Sneijder, Mokoena
Str: Vagner, Cole

5'- Arenas to Mokoena in the middle... he heads back to Jensen, who fires one long to Cole... Cole is onside, past the scattered back line... and he finishes with ease. 1-0, Posh.

12'- Fabrice Fernandes holds the ball up in midfield, then floats it long to Cole at the perfect time... Cole is onside again, and finishes again into the upper corner. 2-0, Posh on Cole's 10th league tally of the year.

15'- Fernandes again to Cole... Cole down the right this time, and he plays a square ball onto the diagonal run of Mokoena into the box. Mokoena is totally free, and finishes inside the far post. 3-0 after a quarter hour. Fulham just look awful all around.

28'- Lunt in for Sneijder as we try to avoid injury.

54'- The ball pings around midfield a bit, then Vagner with a nice ball onto Cole again... he is clear of the defense, and slots it home for his 2nd hat trick in 2 weeks! 4-0, Posh!

Cole leaves for Ibrahim Kargbo as we switch to a 4-5-1.

60'- Fabrice Fernandes with a great cross... Kenny Lunt runs onto it, then hits a diving header into the corner of goal... 5-0, Posh. Lunt's first of the season.

Vagner and Lunt both pick up knocks late in this one. But we take the easy 5-0 win. Carlton Cole is the natural MoM with his 2nd hat trick of the season. Jensen picks up a 9, and nearly everyone else rates an 8, as we take our first ever win over the Cottagers.

Win, 0-5, up to 3rd place
Shots/on target: Cottagers 5/1, Posh 16/9
Poss: 54-46, Cottagers
A: 19,783

EPL Round 16 results - Sunday/Monday
Newcastle 2:1 Palace
Hull 0:2 Blackburn

Our win lifts us to 3rd place, still just a point behind Arsenal, who we now have on goal difference, +17 to their +15.

Carlton Cole has claimed a Posh record, with 57 career league goals.

[Butter]

Jensen and Cole are picked in the Team of the Week.

Alex returns to training following his severe foot injury.

The Third Round FA Cup Draw is held... and we get another crap draw, having to go to The Riverside to face Middlesbrough on January 8, 2011.

Champions League Group Stage - Results
Group A:Chelsea 13, Inter 9, Olympiakos 7, Porto 4
Group B:Roma 15, Basel (SUI) 10, Lyon 6, Lokomotiv Plovdiv 4
Group C:Liverpool 13, Valencia 11, M. Haifa 9, FC Kobenhavn 0
Group D:Barcelona 10, Werder Bremen 9, Ajax 9, Trabzonspor (TUR) 7
Group E:Atletico Madrid 13, Juventus 9, Bayern Munich 6, Shelbourne (IRL) 3
Group F:Dinamo Bucharest 10, Benfica 9, Anderlecht 6, Levski (BUL) 4
Group G:Milan 13, Man U 12, Leverkusen 9, Grazer AK (AUT) 1
Group H:Arsenal 13, Brondby 10, Panathinaikos 10, Zilina (SVK) 1

Dec. 11, Match 17
10-2-4, 3rd pl., 32 pts.
v. Tottenham Hotspur (4-5-7, 15th pl., 17 pts.)
Series: Spurs lead 2-2-1
Fav: Posh, 5:4

John Heitinga makes his Posh debut today.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Heitinga, Marcos, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Cole, Mokoena

5'- Sneijder with a 35 yard volley that Tim Howard has to scramble to save.

23'- Mngomeni with a great ball to Mokoena... and the South African connection hook up to create Mokoena's 10th goal of the year, as he places it neatly inside the post past Howard. 1-0, Posh.

39'- Gerard is removed with a minor injury... Viana in for him.

70'- Robbie Keane with a 30 yard blast that Arenas watches into the seats.

73'- Balaban in for Mokoena.

87'- Balaban gets a pass at the top of the box... he holds it for a moment, then turns and hits a fierce shot inches wide of the left post.

We dominate late possession, and Spurs barely make a noise. A close 1-0 win, but we were never in danger, it seemed. Mngomeni picks up a 9 and MoM honors... Zaccardo with an 8, and everyone else with 7's. Not a great effort, but you can't be "on" for all of them.

Win, 1-0, move up to 2nd place
Shots/on target: Posh 13/5, Spurs 3/1
Poss: 53-47, Posh
A: 17,803

EPL Round 17 results
Boro 3:1 Blackburn
Chelsea 4:1 Coventry
Palace 1:1 Villa
Liverpool 2:1 Fulham
Newcastle 4:0 Hull
Norwich 0:0 Man U
Birmingham 3:1 So'ton
Arsenal 2:0 West Ham
Man City 0:1 Portsmouth

With the win on Sunday, Arsenal reclaim 2nd place. Man U in 1st on 41 pts., Arsenal 2nd with 36, we're 3rd on 35, and Chelsea are 4th on 34.

[Butter]

Mngomeni is picked in the Team of the Week.

The Draw for the First Knockout Round of the UEFA Cup is made... and we play Borussia Dortmund of Germany in 2 legs, beginning in Dortmund on February 17, 2011, with the return leg on February 24. If we make it past that stage, we would play the winner of the Stuttgart/Heerenveen (NED) first round matchup. Dortmund barely made it out of Group C, beating Steaua Bucharest by 1 goal on difference, both teams on 6 points. Both Stuttgart and Heerenveen were in Group H, Stuttgart finishing first with 10 points, and Heerenveen 3rd with 6 points.

Between now and then, we'll have 11 league matches to play through, and one round (or more, I hope) of the FA Cup.

Dec. 18, Match 18
11-2-4, 3rd pl., 35 pts.
@ West Ham United (6-3-8, 13th pl., 21 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 5-4-1
Fav: Posh, 6:4

Wallner has a nagging injury, so we'll hold him out of this one from Upton Park.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Alex, Heitinga, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Viana
Str: Balaban, Cole

West Ham with the better of play in the first 10 minutes, but both of their attempts are very far out and not on target.

14'- Balaban is played onside down the left by Mngomeni.... he hits a scorching shot to the far post, but the Hammers' keeper does well to tip it around the post.

28'- Cole is free down the right... he tries an impossible angle shot instead of squaring it for Balaban, and hits the side netting.

42'- Mngomeni with a great diagonal pass to Balaban, who first times a shot, but the keeper cuts the angle and saves it.

57'- Heitinga with a steal of a goal kick... he passes down the right to Sneijder... Sneijder to Cole in the middle from 25 yards, and he turns and passes to Mngomeni, with space on the left side of the box... Mngomeni's 12 yard shot to the far post goes in! 1-0, Posh! Nice goal, and great midfield play to set it up. Mngomeni is starting to be an essential part of this lineup.

65'- Mascherano with a steal in the West Ham half... he hits it ahead to Cole, who passes to Balaban. Bosko with acres of space near the penalty spot, and he slots it home! 2-0, Posh. We're wearing the Hammers down.

67'- Mokoena in for Cole.

68'- An early cross is headed at 10 yards by West Ham, but Arenas does well to fist it to safety.

86'- A 22 yard free kick for Jonathan Stead goes in past the stationary Arenas. 2-1 now.

West Ham don't threaten again, and we take the points. Hugo Viana wins MoM for his masterful performance in midfield that earns him a 9. Mngomeni also with a 9, while Arenas, Bocanegra, Alex, Sneijder, and Mascherano get 8's.

Win, 1-2, remain in 3rd place
Shots/on target: Hammers 14/6, Posh 19/10
Poss: 51-49, Hammers
A: 32,090

EPL Round 18 results
Spurs 2:0 Liverpool
Blackburn 4:2 Birmingham
Coventry 0:4 Arsenal
Hull 0:1 Middlesbrough
Man U 0:1 Palace
Portsmouth 0:2 Chelsea
So'ton 4:1 Man City
Villa 2:0 Newcastle
Fulham 2:1 Norwich

Fulham get their first win of the season. And with the Manchester United loss, we close to within 3 points of the lead... while Arsenal remain ahead of us, just 2 points from the top spot. Finally, with the loss of Stewart Downing for several months and striker Ivica Olic for several weeks, Man U has cooled off. What looked like a runaway now looks like a legitimate 4 team race for the title.

[Butter]

Viana is picked in the Team of the Week.

A full mid-week pre-Christmas slate on Wednesday, as we host Coventry City.

Dec. 22, Match 19
12-2-4, 3rd pl., 38 pts.
v. Coventry City (3-5-10, 17th pl., 14 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 2-1-1
Fav: Posh, Evens

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Svensson, Marcos, Sarr
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Lunt, Gerard
Str: Wallner, Mokoena

11'- Mokoena with a long throw-in... Gerard is there from 8 yards, and he heads it in! 1-0, Posh! Gerard's 1st of the year.

17'- Gerard with a long ball down the right for Lunt... Lunt enters the box, then centers for Fernandes, who half-volleys it home! 2-0, Posh on Fernandes' 1st of the year.

19'- Fernandes receives a pass from Svensson... he holds it up, then plays it long onto Mokoena's onside run... Mokoena with a quick move around the keeper, and he scores! 3-0, Posh! We're on an absolute roll right now.

28'- Coventry steal one back with a counter-attacking goal of their own... a nice centering pass from near the end line, and Marcos couldn't stop the shot from going off... Arenas with no chance. 3-1.

30'- Roman Wallner says "screw you, Coventry", as Kenny Lunt with a perfect ball to Wallner behind the defense... he's onside and slots it home easily. 4-1.

49'- Fernandes knocks it down the line to Wallner... Wallner takes it to the edge of the area on the left, then shoots... and scores! What a goal! 5-1 now.

67'- Grant in for Arenas... Kargbo on for Wallner, as we switch to a 4-5-1.

Rochemback with a screaming drive in stoppage time, but it's just over.

Fabrice Fernandes is chosen as MoM... earning a 9. Lunt also with a 9, and every other starter gets an 8 except Arenas, who rates a 6. The win couldn't have been easier!

Win, 5-1, remain in 3rd
Shots/on target: Posh 18/10, Sky Blues 4/2
Poss: 50-50
A: 17,766

EPL Round 19 results
Arsenal 1:0 Portsmouth
Birmingham 1:1 Boro
Chelsea 2:0 So'ton
Palace 1:1 Fulham
Hull 2:2 Villa
Liverpool 3:0 West Ham
Man City 2:1 Blackburn
Newcastle 3:1 Man U
Norwich 2:2 Spurs

Arsenal creep into 1st place by 1 point on the day's results. We move into a virtual dead heat with Man U, trailing them by just +1 on goal difference. Chelsea are only 1 point behind both of us, in 4th. We are now the top scoring side in the Premiership, with 41 goals in 19 games played. We're also the 5th best defensive side, allowing just under 1 goal per game (18).

We have created a new Posh record, stringing together 7 wins in a row now.

[Butter]

Hugo Viana picks up a groin strain that will keep him out approximately 2 weeks.

A full slate of Boxing Day games sees us host Portsmouth, as we begin the 2nd round through the league today. We are trying to run our unbeaten string to 14.

Dec. 26, Match 20
13-2-4, 3rd pl., 41 pts.
v. Portsmouth (7-1-11, 12th pl., 22 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 3-1-1
Fav: Posh, Evens

When selecting this lineup, we have to keep in mind that we're playing again in 2 days, at Southampton. So we try and split the best 11 between this match and the Southampton one.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Kargbo, Svensson, Sarr
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Gavilan, Sneijder
Str: Balaban, Cole

A tight opening, Portsmouth control the ball early on, but neither team creates much in the way of chances for the first half hour.

30'- A Posh corner kick is headed out... Svensson controls it, then passes square to Mascherano, who shoots from 25 yards. It clatters off Yakubu, then it falls to Mngomeni, who is just onside... he chips the keeper from just 8 yards, but it finds the back of the net! 1-0, Posh!

Neither striker of ours is performing particularly well at the half, but we'll stick with 'em for a bit longer.

53'- Gavilan's corner is headed back wide to a Pompey defender... he stands there, dumbfounded of having possession apparently, as Gavilan comes back, reclaims the ball, then passes short to Cole who has a free chance from 8 yards, and doesn't miss. 2-0, Posh.

65'- Lunt enters for Sneijder, as we'll try and squeeze 2 games for the price of one out of Wesley next match.

78'- Balaban with a crazy shot from near the touch line, and it squeezes in between the keeper and the post... but rolls along the goal line before being pounced on by the keeper.

81'- Portsmouth's 2nd shot of the match is well high of the target.

Pompey just can't penetrate the defense... and they're all tired out by the end of the match. We take a pretty easy win. Carlos Bocanegra gets our only 8, and wins MoM for his effort from left fullback. Balaban picks up our only 6.

Win, 2-0, up to 2nd place
Shots/on target: Posh 14/9, Pompey 2/0
Poss: 51-49, Posh
A: 17,772

EPL Round 20 results
Arsenal 1:1 So'ton
Villa 1:3 Man U
Chelsea 4:2 Blackburn
Palace 0:1 Spurs
Hull 2:2 Birmingham
Liverpool 4:1 Coventry
Man City 0:2 Boro
Newcastle 0:0 Fulham
Norwich 4:2 West Ham

The Arsenal draw drops them to 4th, as Man U moves back into 1st, and we move into 2nd, level on points with the Red Devils, but one in goal difference behind.

[Butter]

Bocanegra, Fernandes, Gerard, and Wallner are all picked in the Team of the Week.

A full slate of Tuesday games come just 2 days after Boxing Day. No rest for the weary... hopefully the effort to earn a draw at Emirates Stadium will have taken too much out of the Saints for them to stay with us here.

Dec. 28, Match 21
14-2-4, 2nd pl., 44 pts.
@ Southampton (6-4-10, 13th pl., 22 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 2-3-0
Fav: Posh, 5:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Heitinga, Alex, Zaccardo
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Wallner, Mokoena

4'- Zaccardo steals a long free kick, then heads to Wallner... Wallner with a quick long ball to Mokoena... Mokoena has it tackled away at the top of the box, but the ball comes to Sneijder who tries a 25 yard half volley... and it goes in off the far post! 1-0, Posh! Great strike by Sneijder!

12'- Beattie and van Persie exchange passes... Alex gets a foot in, but the ball falls to Finnish midfielder Alexei Eremenko, who has a good 12 yard chance, but nearly puts it out of the stadium.

20'- Right winger Steven Reid has a blast from 15 yards off a squared free kick... but Arenas parries it, and Zaccardo hoists it away.

25'- Good cross by Fernandes to Mokoena, but the 6 yard header has too much on it.

27'- After some nice passing around the back 4... the Southampton attack is drawn forward... then Jensen with a dagger ball straight down the middle to Wallner, who finishes from 18 yards! 2-0, Posh! Wallner's 10th of the season!

29'- Fernandes with a low corner... Mokoena with it, alone on the right of the box. He tees up a 12 yard blast... and it goes in off Robin van Persie! 3-0, Posh!

37'- Jonathan Blondel with a deep cross... Beattie's header is deflected wide by Jensen... Eremenko collects it and shoots from 12 yards... and it goes in the top left corner. Excellent strike by Eremenko, his 5th of the year. 3-1.

39'- Saints nearly score again off the kickoff, but Beattie's 8 yard header blazes over.

40'- Maybe a record, as Rob Styles just now issues his first card, for an Eremenko shirt pull on Gerard.

45+'- In the 2nd stoppage minute, a good switch of play find Fernandes and Wallner 2 on 1 on the left of the box... Fabrice slides it ahead to an onside Wallner, who powers it home inside the right post! We get our goal back on the stroke of halftime, 4-1!

71'- Southampton with a nice run of pressure, forcing 2 straight corners, but they ultimately amount to nothing.

76'- Blondel with a cross in to Crouch... he's elbowed down by Heitinga, and the penalty is given. Reid takes it, and scores. 4-2.

80'- Beattie with a cross in to Crouch at 8 yards, but his header is just over.

84'- A long cross by Reid finds Blondel open from 12 yards... his attempt at placing it inside the far post is well wide, though.

89'- Defender Aaron Hughes crosses in for midfielder Richard Chaplow on the edge of the six, and he heads it in past Arenas. 4-3 now.

Luckily, our defense hunkers down, and we nearly cough up a lead again in the final stages. But it's still a win. Fabrice Fernandes has hit a patch of outstanding form, earning a 9 and MoM today. Wallner also with a 9, and Rochemback and Sneijder get 8's.

Win, 3-4, remain in 2nd
Shots/on target: Saints 15/7, Posh 13/8
Poss: 50-50
A: 28,612

EPL Round 21 results
Birmingham 2:1 Man City
Blackburn 0:3 Arsenal
Coventry 4:2 Norwich
Fulham 1:2 Villa
Man U 3:0 Hull
Boro 1:1 Chelsea
Portsmouth 0:3 Liverpool
Spurs 2:2 Newcastle
West Ham 0:2 Palace

We remain level on points with first place ManU, but they're now +3 GD clear of us. Arsenal remain one point back, and Chelsea are 3 back in 4th place.

[Butter]

Manchester City sign Jermain Defoe on a free transfer... they've recently climbed out of the relegation zone, so this should only help.

Fabrice Fernandes is named Player of the Month of December. Thando Mngomeni finishes 3rd in the voting... considering the both generally play the same position, left wing, we've had a powerful month out at that position.

I am named Manager of the Month as we won all 6 of our league matches in December.

As January 1 hits, we make one signing... 19 year old Icelandic goalkeeper Sindri Tor Hilmarsson comes over from his Icelandic club Fylkir for a $300k transfer fee. Hilmarsson is only 19, and signs for just $36k per year through 2015, and instantly becomes our best keeper in the reserves (aside from veteran Graham Stack). He should be a good one in a couple of years.

Sarr signs a new contract for $500k per season through 2014. Hugo Viana rejects our initial offer of $1.6 million + $500k signing bonus through 2013. We counter with a $1.9 million and a $750k bonus.

We get round 22 off, for some unknown reason.

EPL Round 22 results
Arsenal 0:1 Boro
Villa 3:0 Spurs
Chelsea 3:1 Birmingham
Palace 3:3 Coventry
Hull 1:0 Man City
Newcastle 3:0 West Ham

We remain in 2nd place with the results... but are just one point behind Man U, with a game in hand now.

Carlos Bocanegra signs a new deal with us, a one year extension through 2012, for a pay cut - now $1.5 million per year with a small signing bonus.

Fernandes and Wallner are picked in the Team of the Week... then Wallner goes down with a groin strain, and will miss 2 weeks of action.

A full slate of Monday action sees us traveling to Middlesbrough... and we'll be here again on Saturday in the FA Cup. We're in the middle of a stretch that will see us play 7 of 11 games away from London Road... so it should be interesting.

Jan. 3, 2011, Match 22
15-2-4, 2nd pl., 47 pts.
@ Middlesbrough (11-6-5, 6th pl., 39 pts.)
Series: Boro lead 3-2-1
Fav: Boro, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Heitinga, Marcos, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Fernandes, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Balaban, Cole

1'- 30 seconds in, and Paul Gallagher with an open 15 yard shot that spins wide.

10'- Cole with a great run past 2 midfielders... he lays it for Balaban, who gets around 2 men himself, then a bad touch lets the keeper at the ball... but Bosko touches it away from him, then is left with a sharp angle shot and 3 red jerseys to beat... and he just fires it hard through them all, and it bounces into the goal! 1-0, Posh!

18'- Heitinga with a clearing header on a good Boro move... it comes to Cole in our half... Cole with a long run... he has space, then runs past one defender... then another... then a 3rd, and he's free on the keeper... and he slots it home!!! What a goal by Carlton Cole! His 15th of the season in all competitions puts us up 2-0!

43'- Balaban gets a pass from Sneijder, and moves around a defender again... but tries to be a bit too fancy before shooting and is dispossessed.

70'- Kargbo in for a slightly knocked Heitinga, and Mokoena on for an injured Bocanegra, as Mascherano moves to left back.

73'- Fabrice Fernandes with an outswinging corner right at the top of the six... and Cole heads it in! 3-0, Posh!

81'- Sneijder is played onside by Balaban, but he gets right up on the end line before shooting, and it's blocked away.

84'- Defender Sascha Riether with a cross to an unmarked Arnold Bruggink, and he volleys it past Arenas. 3-1. Bruggink must have about 30 goals on us in his career. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but it seems like he's the only Boro player that ever scores on us.

Fortunately, we keep Bruggink and the rest of the scrubs in check for the final 5+ minutes and take the 3-1 win. Carlton Cole with a magnificent match, earning a 9 and MoM. Fernandes, Mascherano, Balaban with 8's.

Win, 1-3, up to 1st place
Shots/on target: Boro 6/1, Posh 14/6
Poss: 52-48, Posh
A: 31,052

EPL Round 23 results
Birmingham 1:1 Arsenal
Blackburn 2:0 Liverpool
Coventry 0:1 Newcastle
Fulham 4:1 Hull
Man City 3:1 Chelsea
Portsmouth 0:2 Palace
So'ton 1:1 Norwich
Spurs 1:1 Man U
West Ham 0:1 Villa

The Man U draw means will hold our game in hand, but advance one point ahead of the Red Devils into first place. Arsenal and Chelsea sit in 3rd and 4th, both with 47 points to our 50.

We have set a new club record, now going unbeaten in 16 matches since Oct. 27.

[Butter]

Diego Gavilan twists a knee in training, and will miss a week.

Jan. 8, FA Cup Third Round - Televised
@ Middlesbrough (7th in Premiership)
Series: Boro lead 3-2-2
Fav: Boro, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Svensson, El Karkouri, Sarr
Mid: Rochemback, Mngomeni, Lunt, Mokoena
Str: Vagner, Cole

Rob Styles is the referee.

2'- Sarr gets a yellow card for a push.

10'- Tiberiu Ghioane with a nice shot from 12 yards, but 3 Posh players are in front of him and deflect it wide.

16'- Cole with a good centering pass to Vagner, but his first time shot is blocked away.

26'- Vagner's 20 yarder just misses the target.

32'- Kenny Lunt's free kick falls to a big mess of players at 10 yards... and it's headed in! Mokoena gets credit for the goal! 1-0, Posh!

40'- El Karkouri with a poor clearance, and Chris Riggott with a fierce 15 yarder... but Arenas blocks it away.

42'- Arenas with a poor goal kick that falls right to Benedict Vilakazi... he flicks it on to Lee McKenzie, and the Boro striker puts away a nice shot from the left side of the six. 1-1.

Sneijder in for a dinged up Lunt at halftime.

52'- McKenzie draws the defense, then sends Aruna in on the keeper... he slots it home, 2-1 Boro.

We're going to lose in the Cup again! Fuck!

63'- El Karkouri dispossesses a man on the left of the box... he passes up to Sneijder... Sneijder with a long ball to Vagner! Vagner outruns the last line of defense to get the ball, then he chips the keeper from 25 yards, and it goes in! 2-2!

69'- Arnold Bruggink with a 25 yard free kick... Arenas can only slap it away... Igor Biscan with the follow-up, wide!

75'- Heitinga in for Sarr... who has a minor injury and a caution.

90'- Ghioane with a steal of Heitinga's throw-in... he passes to Vilakazi, who crosses right over Svensson, to Joe Cole who finishes from 12 yards. 3-2. Yes, we are going to lose.

Sarr picks up our only 8, as Lee McKenzie earns MoM for Middlesbrough. We end up with 6 yellows from Mr. Styles, to Boro's 2.

Loss, 3-2, out of FA Cup
Shots/on target: Boro 17/7, Posh 14/7
Poss: 57-43, Boro
A: 30,979

We just cannot win in the FA Cup. That's Third Round losses in each of the last 4 years, which means that we've been out in the first round for 3 straight seasons. I guess if we have to lose, losing in the Cup right now is better than dropping a game while we're in contention for the title.

No major shockers in the FA Cup Third Round.

[Butter]

Wesley Sneijder strains some ankle ligaments, which will keep him out about 2 weeks.

Man U midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger breaks an ankle, and he'll miss 3 months of action. They've been hit hard by the injury bug, with several key players now out of commission for quite a while. We need to take advantage of this.

Cole is picked in the Team of the Week.

Arenas has hit a patch of poor form, so we start Lee Grant in goal in our mid-week make up match.

Jan. 12, Match 23
16-2-4, 1st pl., 50 pts.
v. Blackburn Rovers (4-5-13, 18th pl., 17 pts.)
Series: Rovers lead 4-1-2
Fav: Posh, Evens

Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Bocanegra, Heitinga, Alex, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Fernandes, Balaban, Gerard
Str: Mokoena, Cole

4'- Cole with a good long ball to Fernandes, who is in on the keeper... but he can't finish. Those roles should be reversed.

Blackburn is all over us for the next 15 minutes... 2 sizzling headers just miss the mark, as does a 20 yard curler.

22'- Cole is free down the right... but he has it tackled away to Mokoena. Mokoena with a pass to Gerard, who tees up from 20 yards... and it goes in off the right post! Nice shot by Gerard to put us up 1-0!

24'- Mokoena with a great flick on to Cole... Cole is in on the keeper, but he hits the post, and it bounces clear!

33'- Balaban with a great cross to Mokoena, but his header connects while he's falling backwards to meet the ball, and the shot goes over.

45'- Blackburn spring a striker on a long ball... and the striker, 31 year old Pole Andrzej Niedzielan, finishes neatly inside the right post. 1-1 at the break. We yield the kind of goal we usually score.

58'- A corner kick comes in for Blackburn, and the ball pinballs around the box... Grant chases it like a puppy, but fortunately our defense gets legs and heads in to keep it out of the net... finally Zaccardo clears it into touch.

64'- After some midfield passing, Mascherano goes up top to Mokoena... Mokoena heads down to Cole, inside the arc, and he dribbles once then shoots near post... and it's in! 2-1, Posh!

68'- Gerard plays Mokoena onside... he takes it all the way to the byline, then swings a cross in for Cole, but it's headed away.

70'- Lunt in for Fernandes, Mngomeni enters for Cole.

72'- Lunt with a 30 yard free kick... it deflects off the wall, then a defender tries to boot it away, but he boots it into his own goal! 3-1, Posh.

Blackburn is all over us again for the final 15 minutes, but we keep our lines clear and take the 3-1 win, taking full advantage of our game in hand. Lee Grant gets the MoM and a 9... and when you see the shot totals, you'll know why. Zaccardo, Bocanegra, Cole, Fernandes, Mokoena, and Gerard with 8's. We do well to win this one against a determined Blackburn side.

Win, 3-1, incr. lead to 4 pts.
Shots/on target: Posh 21/11, Rovers 27/10
Poss: 51-49, Rovers
A: 15,295

Other EPL mid-week result
Norwich 2:0 Portsmouth

[Butter]

Next up, we host Birmingham before getting a well-deserved 2 week break (thanks to being out of the FA Cup).

Jan. 15, Match 24
17-2-4, 1st pl., 53 pts.
v. Birmingham City (9-8-6, 10th pl., 35 pts.)
Series: Even, 2-1-2
Fav: Posh, 5:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Svensson, Marcos, Sarr
Mid: Rochemback, Mngomeni, Lunt, Viana
Str: Balaban, Cole

A tight first quarter-hour with little action.

16'- Lunt with a long ball square to Viana, who advances a bit, then shoots from 20 yards, a wide open shot... it takes a deflection, a small one, and goes in! 1-0, Posh! We missed Hugo Viana!

34'- Mngomeni's 20 yard shot is wide... off the ensuing goal kick, Svensson with a great long header, right onto Balaban's run... Balaban with a 25 yard chip... it goes over the keeper and in! 2-0, Posh!

57'- After a long series of possession, Birmingham finally cough it up to Sarr... he hits it long to Cole... Cole is onside, and dribbling at the keeper... his shot for the far post hits the inside of the post and bounces out... but the attempted clearance is put in the net! 3-0, Posh on an own goal.

59'- Kargbo in for Cole, we switch to a 4-5-1.

75'- Mokoena in for Balaban, Gerard for Viana.

The remainder of time ticks harmlessly away, and we take the easy win. Kenny Lunt wins MoM with an 8 for his right wing play. Arenas, Sarr, Svensson, and Mngomeni also pick up 8's.

Win, 3-0, lead increases to 6 pts.
Shots/on target: Posh 7/2, Blues 4/2
Poss: 52-48, Posh
A: 17,794

Man U is idle on Saturday, so we stretch our lead to 6 points over Arsenal and Chelsea now.

EPL Round 24 results
Fulham 0:1 Spurs
Arsenal 3:0 Man City
Palace 3:2 So'ton
Hull 0:1 Chelsea
Newcastle 0:0 Portsmouth
Norwich 3:3 Blackburn
Liverpool 2:0 Boro
Man U 3:0 West Ham
Villa 1:1 Coventry

Our lead shrinks back to 4 points with Man U's Sunday win.

Sarr picked up a minor thigh strain in the last match, but he should be well fit by the time we're in action again.

[Butter]

Lee Grant is picked in the Team of the Week.

Our vacation is extended another couple of days, as our 1/30 match with Man City is postponed to mid Feb. due to int'l call ups.

So, our next match is home to Chelsea on Feb. 2nd.

EPL mid-week fixture
Liverpool 2:0 So'ton

Talal El Karkouri retires in the middle of the season... a bit surprisingly. Unfortunately, it's as if all record of him ever existing is gone as well, so I can't recap his career for you. But he had a nice little run, helping us on the way to the Premiership, and having mediocre seasons last year and this.

Norwich pop up as being interested in Carlton Cole, whose current value is $19 million. I can't even consider selling him.

Hull sign Manchester Utd. midfielder Kieran Richardson for $6.4 million.

Southampton and Chelsea will meet in the Carling Cup final... Chelsea beat Newcastle, and the Saints bested Manchester United in the 2 leg semifinals.

We sign another young player to the reserves, this time it's 19 year old Brazilian left winger Carlos Eduardo agreeing to a long-term deal with the Posh. Eduardo will make $32k per season through 2015. He needs a lot of work on his technique, but brings a typical Brazilian flair for the game with him (along with an atypical work ethic). One day after signing with us, Eduardo sets up the only goal in the South American U-20 final, helping Brazil to a 1-0 win over Colombia.

EPL Round 25 fixtures
Blackburn 1:1 Palace
Birmingham 0:1 Liverpool
Coventry 1:1 Man U
Boro 0:0 Norwich
So'ton 1:3 Newcastle
Spurs 3:0 Hull
West Ham 0:1 Fulham
Chelsea 2:4 Arsenal

Our lead is now 3 points over Arsenal and Man U.

Feb. 2, Match 25
18-2-4, 1st pl., 56 pts.
v. Chelsea (15-5-5, 4th pl., 50 pts.)
Series: Blues lead 4-1-2
Fav: Blues, 5:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Heitinga, Alex, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

9'- Viana's 35 yard curling shot through the rain is saved by Petr Cech.

11'- Cole breaks through onside, but Petr Cech with a superb reaction save to deflect it wide... on the counter, Fernando Torres with a 25 yard effort that Arenas does well to save.

16'- Tiago with a fierce 20 yard shot, but Arenas blocks it wide.

20'- Sneijder with a flicked header onto the run of Cole.... Cole holds off Carvalho's challenge, then Cech tips the ball away... but Cole keeps his feet and taps it in! 1-0, Posh!

22'- Wallner with a long ball to Cole... he's onside again, but Cech saves it... the clearance comes to Sneijder, who finds Cole again, but his 15 yard shot is saved by Cech.

27'- Rosicky with a great chance from 15 yards out, but Arenas acrobatically tips the placed shot wide. Off the corner, Arenas is injured, and Chelsea sportingly pass up a fairly open shot by Duff to allow Arenas to get treatment... he has to leave the match, and Grant will come on for him. Hopefully not a serious injury.

50'- Viana plays Wallner onside... but the defense converges from both sides and get the ball from him.

53'- A chance for Chelsea is snuffed out by Zaccardo... Zaccardo with a long ball downfield... Carvalho can't beat Cole to the 50/50 ball... Cole attacks Cech, and slots it home! Cole continues to plague his former employer, and we lead 2-0!

Chelsea start to apply the gas a bit more in the 60th minute, but still can't break through.

76'- Mokoena on for a mediocre Wallner.

A couple of late chances never materialize past deflected crosses for Chelsea, and we take the win! A shutout of Chelsea, quite impressive! Carlton Cole with a perfect 10 and a brace... and MoM honors. Grant gets a 9 in goal, and Arenas and Zaccardo pick up 8's for the Posh. We stake our claim to the title with this dismissal of Chelsea.

Win, 2-0, lead incr. to 5 pts.
Shots/on target: Posh 13/9, Blues 15/6
Poss: 54-46, Chelsea
A: 17,783

EPL Round 26 results
Villa 3:0 So'ton
Palace 3:1 Boro
Hull 0:0 Arsenal
Liverpool 2:0 Man City
Man U 1:2 Portsmouth
Newcastle 2:3 Blackburn
Norwich 1:0 Birmingham
Spurs 2:0 West Ham

We now lead Arsenal by 5, Man U by 6, and 4th place Chelsea by 9.

Now, the bad news... Arenas has broken ribs, and will miss 4 weeks of action, including our upcoming UEFA Cup tie with Borussia Dortmund. Which is even worse since we only named 2 keepers to our 25 man European roster. A journalist from the Sunday Mirror asks if I feel we can get along without Arenas after the game, and I say that one player does not a team make. Arenas doesn't like that comment, but he'll get over it. I have to pump Grant up since he's going to be it for a month. He has been playing well in limited action this year.

[Butter]

Feb. 5, Match 26
19-2-4, 1st pl., 59 pts.
@ Arsenal (16-6-4, 2nd pl., 54 pts.)
Series: Gunners lead 3-1-1
Fav: Gunners, 4:5

Bocanegra is still away with the USA playing in the Gold Cup.
Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Marcos, Svensson, Sarr
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Gavilan, Gerard
Str: Balaban, Mokoena

17'- Svensson with a steal in the box, to Fernandes... Fernandes with a long ball to Mokoena, who is onside... GK Tim Wiese has Mokoena's shot angle covered... but his 10 yarder takes a deflection of Gael Clichy, and goes in over the helpless Wiese! 1-0, Posh!

22'- Vieira with a cross in to Donadel... his header is stopped point blank by Grant! And cleared.

27'- Reyes with a pass into space for Dagoberto... he gets room, then shoots from just inside the area, but Grant with another fine save!

37'- Balaban is forced to leave with an injury, Mngomeni will play alongside Mokoena now.

53'- Anthony Le Tallec, with a great cross to a cutting Cavenaghi, and he is left with a simple 8 yard volley that he puts away. 1-1.

57'- Mngomeni with a cross in to Mokoena, who has an 8 yard shot deflected out for a corner kick.

67'- Vieira with a towering header, but it towers into the stands.

71'- Cole enters for a dinged up Mokoena.

81'- Reyes with a cross into traffic... Vieira again gets up to head it, but Grant with a great reflex save... the rebound shot by Henry is saved.

86'- A pass into the box sees Marcos clatter Henry over, and the penalty is awarded. Fernando Cavenaghi to take it... it's in. 2-1, Arsenal.

88'- Sneijder in for Jensen, we switch to a heavily attacking 3-5-2.

90'- Fernandes with an early cross... it looks even between Wiese and Cole to get it, but the keeper is there first.

And that's our last chance. Arsenal put themselves back into the race with the win, our first league defeat in 15 games, since a loss to Norwich on Oct. 24. Fabrice Fernandes picks up a 9, MoM, and a late injury. Grant with an 8, but everyone else 7's in this uninspiring effort.

Loss, 2-1, lead decreases to 2 pts.
Shots/on target: Gunners 15/8, Posh 13/5
Poss: 52-48, Gunners
A: 53,083

EPL Round 27 results
Portsmouth 2:1 Fulham
Blackburn 0:2 Villa
Coventry 0:2 Spurs
Man City 1:0 Norwich
So'ton 2:0 Man U
West Ham 0:1 Hull
Birmingham 1:1 Palace
Boro 0:3 Newcastle
Chelsea 4:0 Liverpool

Man U remain 6 points back, but Chelsea advance to 6 points behind in 4th place. Liverpool's loss to Chelsea almost assures that without a major run of form, that the Reds will be missing out on the Champions League next year.

Rochemback picks up a one match ban for accruing 5 yellow cards this year. Balaban and Rochemback shouldn't miss much time with their minor injuries.

Portsmouth sack manager David Platt.

Fernandes is picked in the Team of the Week.

COLE PROUD OF HIS FIRST CAP

In an emotional interview with journalists after his international debut against Egypt, Peterborough United's Carlton Cole spoke of his pride at representing England for the first time.

Looking tired but happy, the new England star was quick to praise his Peterborough manager Butter for giving him the self-belief to scale new heights.

That said, Cole came on in the 59th minute of the friendly, and barely touched the ball. But England won the game, 3-1.

I have to say, that little message almost choked me up a little bit. Cole more than deserves his chance at the national team, considering he has been the most consistently dominant striker in the league the last 3 seasons.

[Butter]

EPL Round 28 results - Saturday
Fulham 1:3 So'ton
Villa 1:2 Boro
Palace 2:1 Man City
Newcastle 1:0 Birmingham
Norwich 0:2 Chelsea
Spurs 1:0 Portsmouth
West Ham 4:0 Coventry

We have a televised Sunday match against endangered Hull. Shouldn't be too much trouble. Then our next 2 matches are our UEFA Cup legs v. Borussia Dortmund. This will be interesting.

Man City sack Jacques Santini after their loss at Selhurst Park.

Feb. 13, Match 27
19-2-5, 1st pl., 59 pts.
@ Hull (4-7-16, 19th pl., 19 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 3-3-1
Fav: Posh, 4:6

Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Kargbo, Svensson, Sarr
Mid: Mascherano, Fernandes, Gavilan, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

1'- Gavilan's throw in comes to Cole... he hits a great long diagonal ball to Fernandes, who is in on the keeper... he fakes right, then cuts back left and slots it home! Fernandes scores after just 50 seconds, and we lead 1-0.

15'- Mascherano with another great ball to Fernandes... they're just not covering the left wing at all... this time, Fernandes' fancy footwork can't beat the keeper.

18'- Kargbo steals a corner kick, and passes to Fernandes, who outlets long to Cole... Cole is onside, but keeper Paddy Kenny does a good job to stop him. Wallner steals the outlet, and passes to the right flank to Gavilan... Diego attacks the box, then shoots a nice bender from 18 yards that slips inside the far post and in! 2-0, Posh.

34'- Viana's corner kick is headed in the back of the net by Mascherano... but Cole is called for a push, negating the sequence.

42'- Cole with a steal in midfield, and he knocks it left for Fernandes... Fernandes stays close to the sideline, then swings a long cross in to the back post... Gavilan charges onto it, and heads it home! Gavilan's 5th of the year, and Fernandes' 12th assist in league play... he is having some kind of season.

44'- Wallner with a nice long ball to Cole... Cole is closed down quickly by 2 defenders and the keeper... the ball bobbles sideways to Hugo Viana, who hits a shot... it's deflected, but it trickles over the goal line before Kenny can get there! 4-0 before halftime! Viana's 5th of the year.

49'- Fernandes with a bicycle attempt off a corner kick, but it goes well wide.

53'- Mokoena in for Cole, Sneijder on for Viana.

56'- Jermaine Pennant with a nice ball forward, and it's headed down for Kris Boyd who has an easy 15 yard shot, and buries it in the right corner. 4-1.

76'- Gavilan gets a pass from Mascherano, and dribbles up the line... he swings in a near post cross for Mokoena, and Lebohang heads it home. Mokoena's 15th goal of the year in all competitions, and we get our goal back.

We take it easy the final 15 minutes, and pick up an easy 4 goal victory. Hugo Viana picks up a 10 and MoM honors. Viana completed all 22 passes made from his attacking spot. Sarr and Gavilan pick up 9's, and the rest of the starting eleven get 8's, except for Grant's 7.

Win, 1-5, lead incr. to 5 pts.
Shots/on target: Tigers 10/3, Posh 15/9
Poss: 55-45, Tigers
A: 22,549

EPL Round 28 results - Sunday/Monday
Man U 1:1 Blackburn
Liverpool 1:1 Arsenal

That draw leaves us 4 points clear of 2nd place Arsenal, and we still have a game in hand on them.

Sarr, Gavilan, Kargbo, and Viana are picked in the Team of the Week.

[Butter]

It's time for the UEFA Cup Round of 32.... or the First Knockout Round, as it's known.

Bocanegra suffers a slightly separated shoulder in training running up to the First Leg, so he'll likely miss our trip to Dortmund.

EPL mid-week fixture
Fulham 1:0 Coventry
-Fulham win this key 6-pointer to pull themselves off the bottom and into 17th place, pushing Man City into the drop zone.

Feb. 17, UEFA Cup First Knockout Round - First Leg - Televised
@ Borussia Dortmund (placed 3rd in Group C behind Tottenham and M. Tel-Aviv)
Fav: Dortmund, 6:4

All we can do is hope and pray that no badness befalls Grant in this match... we have no substitute keeper.
Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Heitinga, Alex, Zaccardo
Mid: Rochemback, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Mokoena, Cole

Dortmund deploy a 4-2-3-1, with 3 midfielders spread across the attacking third.

A tight match in the early going, no real chances through the first 15 minutes.

18'- Heitinga with a steal at the edge of the area, to Jensen... Jensen advances, passes to Cole... 55 yards upfield. Cole is clean through on the keeper... and he finishes just inside the far post! Cole's 20th of the season in all competitions, and we take a 1-0 lead!

24'- Mokoena passes forward to Sneijder... Sneijder and Cole are 2-on-2... Sneijder tries a nice ball ahead to Cole, but it's read by the Dortmund defense, and they cut the pass out.

37'- Sneijder passes up a chance to play Cole through, and misses a hopeful 20 yarder.

45'- Dortmund with a chance, a cross is swung in and punched away by Grant... the 15 yard follow up is parried by Grant, and Zaccardo clears.

52'- A 10 yard header is slightly misdirected by Dortmund's lone striker, Argentinean Cesar Carignano.

56'- A half volley off a Dortmund corner kick blazes well over.

59'- Mngomeni with a pass ahead to Sneijder... Sneijder with a short pass to Cole, who has a man on his back... Cole swivels and shoots blindly toward goal from 15 yards... and scores into the top corner! Great strike by Carlton Cole, we lead 2-0!

63'- Another Dortmund corner comes to Carignano on the near post... he heads it onto the post, and it bounces clear!

65'- Mokoena with a steal in Dortmund's defensive third... he passes back to Mngomeni, who crosses to Sneijder at the top of the area... Sneijder with a powerful 18 yard effort that is tipped out for a corner.

67'- Viana in for a cautioned Gerard... Mascherano enters for a dinged up Mokoena, and we switch to a 4-5-1.

84'- Viana's corner is headed on by Cole, who narrowly misses completing a hat trick.

The final whistle goes, and we've set ourselves up very nicely for the return leg at London Road. We can move on with a low scoring affair. Carlton Cole wins MoM and a 10 for his superb frontline play. Sneijder picks up a 9, while Grant, Jensen, and Heitinga get 8's.

Win, 0-2 - return leg at London Road on Feb. 24
Shots/on target: Dortmund 9/4, Posh 13/9
Poss: 51-49, Posh
A: 69,984

In other UEFA Cup action, Aston Villa win at Lokomotiv Moscow, 3-1. Newcastle beat CSKA Sofia at St. James's Park, 6-0. And Spurs drop a 2-1 decision at White Hart Lane to Sporting Lisbon. In the match pitting our potential 2nd Knockout Round opponents, Stuttgart with an easy 4-0 home win over Heerenveen.

[Butter]

FA Cup Fifth Round - Results
So'ton 0:1 Man U
Arsenal 2:0 Leicester
Barnsley 0:1 Chelsea
Bristol C. 2:1 Oxford
Cardiff 1:2 Man City
Portsmouth 1:0 Liverpool
Boro 2:1 West Ham
Leeds 0:2 Swansea

Micky Adams jumps ship from Cardiff to take over at Portsmouth.

Bosko Balaban sprains his ankle in training, and he'll miss nearly a month of action.

Feb. 24, UEFA Cup First Knockout Round - Second Leg - Televised
v. Borussia Dortmund
Posh lead 2-0 after Leg 1
Fav: Posh, 6:4

Arenas is still only around 60%, but we put him on the roster just in case.
Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Bocanegra, Heitinga, Alex, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Fernandes, Sneijder, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

3'- We hit on the counter-attack... Sneijder to Viana, who passes short to Wallner. Wallner with a move around 2 defenders, then he hits a wonderful bending shot from 20 yards that goes in past the keeper. Roman Wallner showing his class, and putting us up 3-0 on aggregate.

7'- Viana steals a free kick... to Wallner, who plays it long to Cole. Cole is onside, and he finishes easily past the confused looking keeper... 2-0!

20'- 3 consecutive corner kicks come up empty for us.

32'- Fernandes with a cross to Sneijder... Sneijder draws the keeper, then cuts it back for Viana, who has an 8 yard chance, but lots of traffic in front... he powers it home! 3-0 and 5-0 on aggregate! This one's over!

Marcos enters for the still not fully fit Bocanegra at halftime.

49'- Fernandes with a near post cross... Christophe Metzelder upends Wallner, and the penalty is given! Hugo Viana places the ball on the spot... and scores! 4-0!

57'- Cole and Wallner play the one-two... Wallner has it tackled away... Cole tries to collect, but is also dispossessed... Sneijder runs onto the loose ball, and fires a first touch 20 yarder... GOAL!! What a strike by Sneijder! It's a celebration at London Road! We lead 5-0!

60'- Gavilan on for Viana... Kargbo for Cole, as we switch to a 4-5-1 again.

We just kick the ball around midfield for another half hour, and take the win! Hugo Viana is MoM again, earning a 9 for his splendid effort. Nearly everyone else rates an 8, as we easily advance to the next round.

Win, 5-0 - Peterborough advance 7-0 on aggregate
Shots/on target: Posh 12/7, Dortmund 1/0
Poss: 52-48, Posh
A: 14,358

UEFA Cup Round of 16 participants
Sampdoria, Rapid Vienna, Peterborough United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, CSKA Moscow, Stuttgart, Monaco, Olympiakos, Young Boys (SUI), Sparta Prague, Bayern Munich, PSV Eindhoven, Lyon, Sporting Lisbon, Parma

Spurs lose to Sporting Lisbon 4-2 on aggregate. We will next face Stuttgart, who beat Heerenveen 4-0 on aggregate. The first leg will be at London Road on March 10, then the return leg one week later.

We receive $180k for our round win.

[Butter]

Carling Cup Final
Southampton 0:0 Chelsea
- Southampton dominate play during the 120 minutes of regular play, but fall 4-3 on penalties to the Blues.

March 2, Match 28
20-2-5, 1st pl., 62 pts.
@ Manchester City (5-5-17, 18th pl., 20 pts.)
Series: Citizens lead 3-1-2
Fav: Citizens, 6:4

Not sure how they're figuring those odds. But usually, it means we're in for a tussle.
Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Kargbo, Alex, Sarr
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Gavilan, Gerard
Str: Vagner, Mokoena

1'- Alex with a long ball down the left for Mngomeni... Mngomeni passes short to Vagner, who is cutting into the box... Vagner in space, and he shoots low from 12 yards... Robert Green lets it go right through him, and in! 1-0 after 58 seconds! Vagner's 3rd of the year.

We keep the ball for most of the rest of the half, but can't get any more decent chances. All of our shots are from long distance and don't bother Green much. For their part, Man City get 0 shots in the first 45.

62'- Mokoena's 20 yard shot is saved by Green.

70'- Mngomeni with a good cross to Mokoena, who has a volley from 10 yards, but Green with another nice save.

80'- Zaccardo in for a sub-par Mokoena, and Fernandes in for Gavilan on the right wing. We go to a 4-5-1.

87'- Vagner with a great switch of play to Mngomeni, who is wide open against the pressing Man City defense... Mngomeni gets to within 8 yards of the keeper, but Green stretches out and denies him.

90'- Great long ball to Martin Fox, who gets in behind our defense... but he pulls his shot wide.

Man City play a couple of scary balls into the box, but Alex and Kargbo do a good job denying the passes in. The final whistle goes, and we grind out a 1-0 win. Mngomeni gets a 10 for his midfield play, earning MoM honors. Mascherano and Kargbo pick up 8's.

Win, 0-1, lead increases to 7 pts.
Shots/on target: Man City 3/0, Posh 12/7
Poss: 53-47, Posh
A: 42,107

EPL mid-week result
Portsmouth 2:0 Villa

We make up our game in hand, and gain points on 2nd place Arsenal.

[Butter]

David Platt, sacked as manager of Portsmouth a month ago, is hired on at Manchester City.

March 5, Match 29
21-2-5, 1st pl., 65 pts.
v. Liverpool (14-6-8, 6th pl., 48 pts.)
Series: Reds lead 3-0-2
Fav: Liverpool, Evens

Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Heitinga, Alex, Zaccardo
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Sneijder, Viana
Str: Wallner, Cole

10'- Cisse gets a pass in the box... and dribbles around Heitinga, and shoots near post... into the side netting.

18'- An early cross by Josemi to Cisse... Cisse heads it onto Grant, who somehow manages to put it into the goal. Grant is charged with an own goal, and we trail 1-0.

35'- Kallstrom with a powerful 30 yard blast, but Grant with a good save.

45+'- In the 2nd added minute, we have some nice possession around the fringes... Zaccardo with an early cross to Wallner, who makes a good run, and gets the pass 10 yards out... and slots it home past the keeper! 1-1 at the half, thanks to Wallner.

Viana, Fernandes, and Cole all are rating 5's at the half. Hopefully, they'll snap out of it, because we're being badly outplayed.

55'- Viana leaves injured... Mngomeni in for him.

71'- Lunt in for Fernandes, who has not improved.

79'- Lunt with a good cross in, Cole with a 12 yard header... off the crossbar! And cleared.

84'- Mokoena in for Cole.

Just our 3rd draw of the year, and a pretty terrible effort at that. Liverpool didn't even play well, and still got a point. Grant, Fernandes, and Viana with 5's, Sneijder with a 6, and 7's aside from that. I still don't know how Pool's goal went in.

Draw, 1-1, lead drops to 5 pts.
Shots/on target: Posh 17/3, Reds 4/2
Poss: 54-46, Posh
A: 17,791

EPL Round 29 results
Arsenal 3:0 Norwich
Blackburn 3:1 Fulham
Chelsea 0:0 Palace
Coventry 1:1 Hull
Boro 0:1 Man U
Portsmouth 1:1 West Ham
Man City 3:1 Newcastle
Birmingham 4:0 Villa
So'ton 2:1 Spurs

Sadly, Hugo Viana has injured his hip... again. This injury kept him out at the end of last season, and means he's out for the rest of this year as well. I send him to surgery, which could mean an extra 2 months of recuperation time, which could keep him out of the beginning of next year as well... if we re-sign him.

Nuneaton Borough, currently 11th in Conference North, have gone bankrupt... the first time I've noticed a team going into receivership in my 7+ years as a manager.

[Butter]

March 10, UEFA Cup Second Knockout Round - First Leg - Televised
v. VfB Stuttgart (beat Heerenveen 4-0 in First Knockout Round)
Fav: Posh, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Heitinga, Alex, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Wallner, Cole

A tight first half... we have several chances, but none are very troubling to Stuttgart's defense.

61'- Mngomeni gets a nice long pass from Alex... Mngomeni crosses to Cole, who tees up from the penalty spot... the Stuttgart keeper saves it.

73'- Mokoena in for Gerard... Gavilan on for Mascherano.

86'- Mngomeni with a cross into traffic at the far post... Cole heads it back across the goal mouth, but it's too high.

The final whistle goes, and we get a disappointing scoreless draw. The Stuttgart keeper wins MoM with a 10 for keeping a clean sheet. No one for us rates above a 7.

Draw, 0-0, 2nd leg at Stuttgart on March 17
Shots/on target: Posh 19/10, Stuttgart 2/1
Poss: 57-43, Posh
A: 13,736

[Butter]

FA Cup Quarterfinal - results
Man City 1:3 Arsenal
Portsmouth 0:2 Man U
Chelsea 1:0 Bristol C.
Swansea 0:0 Boro

Heitinga, Mascherano, and Mokoena all pick up minor injuries that will keep them out of the 2nd leg of our UEFA Cup tie.

March 17, UEFA Cup Second Knockout Round - Second Leg - Televised
@ VfB Stuttgart
Aggregate score: 0-0
Fav: Stuttgart, 6:4

All we need is a win, or a draw with goals in it to advance.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Bocanegra, Alex, Svensson, Zaccardo
Mid: Kargbo, Mngomeni, Sneijder, Gerard
Str: Wallner, Cole

2'- A 25 yard Stuttgart free kick looks destined for the top corner, but Arenas with a world class save to keep it out!

11'- Cole is played onside by Zaccardo, but his chip attempt is tipped away by the keeper.

18'- Wallner with a 25 yard free kick that he strikes straight... but another good save. The corner by Sneijder falls to Gerard, with a glorious chance from 5 yards, but the volley is charged down and cleared away.

43'- Wallner and Cole pass back and forth... Cole feigns the return pass to Wallner, and beats his man himself... his slotted shot to the left post... saved!

What a half of football... both keepers playing brilliantly.

54'- Wallner with it in midfield... he knocks it ahead to Cole... Cole beats his man! He advances on the keeper... YES!! It's in!!! 1-0, Posh! Now Stuttgart must score 2 to advance!

70'- Bad giveaway in the back... the ball rolls near Arenas, but the Stuttgart striker gets there first... but Arenas tips it to Alex, who clears!

73'- Marcos in for Wallner, and we go to a 5-4-1.

75'- Kargbo steals a free kick, and passes ahead to Gerard... Gerard runs straight down the middle unmolested, and slots it home from 18 yards! 2-0, Posh, and we're moving on!!

90+'- In the 92nd, Gerard adds one for good measure on a great pass from Sneijder.

Carlton Cole picks up MoM honors... coming through in a big game again, earning a 10. Sneijder also with a 10, and Gerard with a 9 and a brace. Kargbo and the entire back row earn 8's.

Win, 0-3, advance to UEFA Cup Quarterfinals
Shots/on target: Stuttgart 9/5, Posh 24/16
Poss: 52-48, Posh
A: 41,761

We pick up $360k for our win.

UEFA Cup Quarterfinalists
Newcastle, Sampdoria, CSKA Moscow, Peterborough United, Olympiakos, Sporting Lisbon, Parma, Bayern Munich

Only 2 English teams left, as Sporting Lisbon take down their 2nd straight English squad, dispatching Villa 4-1 on aggregate.

[Butter]

We will play Olympiakos, beginning in Piraeus, Greece on April 7th, with the return leg at London Road on April 14th. If we win that tie, we will face the winner of Sampdoria v. Sporting Lisbon. Newcastle will face Parma in the Quarters.

Our U-18 squad wins the U-18 Cup, beating Tottenham Hotspur's U-18's, 2-1 on PK's (after it finished 1-1 in 120 minutes). A very impressive result for our youth system.

EPL Round 30 results - Saturday
Fulham 0:1 Boro
Palace 2:0 Arsenal
Hull 1:3 Liverpool
Man U 3:0 Birmingham
Spurs 4:2 Blackburn

March 20, Match 30
21-3-5, 1st pl., 66 pts.
@ Norwich City (11-7-11, 11th pl., 40 pts.)
Series: Canaries lead 3-1-1
Fav: Posh, 5:4

Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Marcos, Sarr, Gavilan
Mid: Rochemback, Mngomeni, Lunt, Gerard
Str: Vagner, Cole

1'- Cole almost scores after less than 20 seconds, as Jensen's long ball finds him open, but the Canary keeper stops the breakaway.

13'- Norwich's Barry Ferguson with a 25 yard attempt, and he's not far off.

22'- Gerard with a nice pass to Vagner, but his 15 yarder is deflected wide... to Mngomeni, but he has it tackled away before he can shoot.

Cole and Lunt both get free on breakaways just prior to the interval, but the Norwich keeper is playing above his head.

51'- Vagner collects a clearance and passes to Cole... Cole with a long run against the spread out Norwich defense... he closes to within 12 yards, then chips the keeper... and scores! Cole with a typically classy goal, and we take the 1-0 lead!

58'- A Norwich defender gets a 2nd yellow card for tripping up Mngomeni.

70'- Fernandes on for Lunt, Wallner enters for Vagner.

73'- Wallner nearly scores a brilliant shot from the left edge of the area, but the keeper saves it.

85'- Fernandes takes a 15 yarder... it deflects wide, but Mngomeni is on the loose ball, and powers it in! 2-0, Posh.

Cole is named MoM yet again, rating a 9. Several 8's also to be found, as we give a good effort against a team that beat us at London Road this year.

Win, 0-2, lead incr. to 8 pts.
Shots/on target: Canaries 6/2, Posh 13/10
Poss: 50-50
A: 19,078

EPL Round 30 results - Sunday/Monday
West Ham 0:0 So'ton
Villa 0:0 Man City
Newcastle 0:0 Chelsea
Coventry 0:0 Portsmouth

Look at those scores... some white hot weekend action there.... or not. We take command of the title with the weekend's results, now holding an 8 point lead over 2nd place Arsenal with 8 games to play.

[Butter]

Sarr and Gerard are picked in the Team of the Week.

We get a well-deserved 2 weeks off here, thanks to Euro 2012 qualifying.

FA Cup Quarterfinal Replay
Middlesbrough 3:2 Swansea

John Heitinga is sent off after 18 minutes, and earns a 4 in Holland's 2-0 win over Wales. Posh pride!

Carlton Cole is called up to England after Michael Owen goes down with an injury.

Bocanegra suffers a torn groin muscle in training, which will leave him out around a month. We send Bocanegra for surgery, effectively ending his season.

Arenas suffers a groin strain in a friendly match, and he'll miss about a week.

EPL Round 31 results
Portsmouth 2:0 Hull
Birmingham 3:0 Fulham
Blackburn 0:1 West Ham
Chelsea 0:1 Villa
Liverpool 0:0 Norwich
Boro 0:1 Spurs
So'ton 3:2 Coventry
Arsenal 3:3 Newcastle
Man City 0:2 Man U

April 4, Match 31
22-3-5, 1st pl., 69 pts.
v. Crystal Palace (13-12-5, 8th pl., 51 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 3-4-0
Fav: Posh, 5:4

Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Svensson, Heitinga, Sarr
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Lunt, Gerard
Str: Mokoena, Balaban

The first 60 minutes of this one are DEAD BORING.

60'- Gavilan on for Lunt.

61'- Ivanschitz with a centering pass to Sandor Torghelle, and the striker scores inside the right post. 1-0, Eagles.

68'- Cole on for Jensen, and we go with an attacking 3-4-3.

75'- Rochemback nearly curls in a 30 yard strike.

We can't muster any offense, and take a rare loss. Grant gets our only 8, and Gabor Kiraly is named man of the match. I knew as soon as I saw that we've never lost to Palace, that this would be it.

Loss, 0-1, lead drops to 6 pts.
Shots/on target: Posh 8/5, Eagles 18/7
Poss: 52-48, Eagles
A: 17,767

Next up: Olympiakos.

[Butter]

April 7, UEFA Cup Quarterfinals - First Leg - Televised
@ Olympiakos (Beat M. Tel-Aviv 4-1 on agg. in First Knockout Round, beat Young Boys (SUI) 4-1 on agg. in Second Knockout Round)
Fav: Olympiakos, 6:4

Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Heitinga, Alex, Marcos, Zaccardo
Mid: Mascherano, Fernandes, Sneijder, Mngomeni
Str: Mokoena, Cole

For Olympiakos, former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill is their playmaker in the center of a flat 4-5-1... Polish striker Emmanuel Olisadebe is the lone striker in this formation (formerly of Panathinaikos).

4'- After a long build-up, Mngomeni tries a 25 yard bender that's not close.

8'- Cahill gets a yellow for pulling down Mascherano in midfield.

11'- Portuguese def. midfielder Bosingwa with a 25 yard effort that narrowly misses the top corner.

18'- Cole keys a 5-on-4 break, then shoots a bender from about 30 yards that is saved nicely by 28 year old Kleopas Giannou, Greece's current national keeper.

25'- Sneijder picks up a knock, but he'll stay on. Zaccardo with a yellow for tripping up 30 year old Moroccan left winger Badr El Kaddouri.

32'- Alex with a 55 yard free kick that comes to Mokoena at the edge of the area... he nods down for Sneijder, who volleys from 18 yards, but puts it over.

35'- A deft counter attack by Olympiakos, as Bosingwa passes to Cahill, who plays Olisadebe onside, and he finishes into the top corner from near the spot... he was unmarked, as our center-backs were nowhere to be seen on this play. 1-0, Olympiakos.

38'- 23 year old central defender Dimitris Pantazis with a 2 footed challenge on Mngomeni, he gets a caution.

41'- Marcos with a steal, he passes to Mngomeni... he sends a long ball to Cole. Cole under pressure from 2, splits them, and fires an early shot that is saved.

51'- Mokoena leaves a man flat-footed, then fires a good 15 yard shot at an onrushing keeper... blocked wide. Fernandes gathers 10 yards from goal, then centers to Cole... Cole's volley is blocked out by Giannou! Great save by the keeper.

58'- Cole plays Mngomeni on... he tries to finish from a tough left angle, but can't.

60'- Mngomeni moves to the left wing... Gerard enters at AMC, replacing Fernandes. Sneijder leaves, and Balaban enters.

63'- Mascherano gets a yellow for holding Olisadebe.

73'- The sub pays off.... Cole to Gerard, who chips over the last line right onto Mokoena's run... Mokoena in the center of the box, shoots far post from the spot... and scores!!! 1-1! A vital away goal!

I hope for Olympiakos to go more offensive, giving us a chance to spring our counter attack...

90'- Zaccardo's pass to Cole is deflected... Cole one touches it to Gerard, who gets into the box and tees up from 15 yards... the shot is charged down, and Cole with a foul going for the rebound.

90+'- Cole and Mokoena advance up field... Cole on the right edge of the box, crosses left to Mngomeni, but a poor first touch gives the ball away.

The final whistle goes, and we take a road draw. Grant allowed the only shot on target into the net, otherwise we should've won this game. Carlton Cole with a 10, running the back 4 of Olympiakos in circles and winning MoM. Mokoena, Marcos, Alex, and Zaccardo pick up 8's. Cahill and Giannou with 8's for Olympiakos.

Draw, 1-1, return leg on April 14 at London Road
Shots/on target: Olympiakos 3/1, Posh 14/7
Poss: 51-49, Posh
A: 18,428

UEFA Cup Quarterfinals, Leg 1 results
CSKA Moscow 0:1 Bayern Munich
Newcastle 1:0 Parma
Sampdoria 3:1 Sporting Lisbon

[Butter]

EPL Round 32 results - Saturday
Spurs 1:3 Birmingham
Villa 2:1 Arsenal
Palace 0:1 Liverpool
Fulham 0:0 Man City
Hull 2:1 Norwich
West Ham 2:1 Boro

April 10, Match 32
22-3-6, 1st pl., 69 pts.
@ Newcastle United (15-9-7, 6th pl., 54 pts.)
Series: Posh lead 3-0-2
Fav: Magpies, 5:4

With Arenas still out with injury, we risk one more match with no keeper substitute.
Lineup:
GK: Grant
Def: Jensen, Kargbo, Svensson, Sarr
Mid: Rochemback, Fernandes, Gavilan, Gerard
Str: Vagner, Balaban

Newcastle need this one badly, as they are level on 54 points with 2 other teams, but both of these teams are slightly behind on goal difference.

10'- Grant puts the fear o' God into me, pushing Bellamy over on a cross and giving Newcastle a penalty. Luckily, no card is shown, AND Grant saves the Bellamy PK.

11'- Vagner passes to Fernandes, who runs around one man and has a great 10 yard chance, but the keeper pushes it out for a corner.

15'- After 2 minutes of each team giving the ball away in midfield, Bellamy gets to the byline and crosses in for Robert Vittek, and he finishes from 8 yards out on a nice volley. 1-0, Newcastle.

35'- A Harry Kewell pass deflects off Kargbo, right to an open Craig Bellamy, who finishes easily from 15 yards. 2-0, Magpies.

51'- Amazingly, Grant yields another penalty without a caution, on a similar play... barging a man over on a corner kick this time. Akin Serhat takes the PK... and Grant with another save. Grant giveth and he taketh away.

53'- Uriah Rennie sends off Jermaine Jenas, giving him a 2nd yellow for pushing over Vagner. We switch to an attacking 3-4-3, replacing Balaban with Mokoena, and bringing on Mngomeni for Jensen.

77'- Sneijder in for Fernandes.

We don't muster so much as a single chance with a man advantage for over 35 minutes. Not a good display. Our form has gone to hell as we have been unable to balance our UEFA Cup and league needs. And we swing the door to the title wide open. I can't really praise Grant for saving the 2 penalties, as he was the reason they were awarded. But we could easily have lost 4-0.

Loss, 2-0, lead drops to 3 pts.
Shots/on target: Magpies 11/6, Posh 4/2
Poss: 52-48, Magpies
A: 45,482

Arsenal's loss to Aston Villa yesterday pretty much drops them out of the title chase. But there is one team that still looks interested in overtaking us...
EPL Round 32 results - Sunday/Monday
Man U 1:0 Chelsea
Portsmouth 2:2 So'ton
Coventry 1:3 Blackburn

Manchester United close to within 3 points of the lead with 6 to play. They are on 66 pts., we're on 69. Arsenal remain a distant 3rd, on 62 points.

In 10 days we visit Old Trafford, maybe to decide the title.