Next up, another easy looking game, at home with last placed Blackburn. We won the away game 4-1 in October, I was entitled to expect another win. We took the lead early in the game thanks to centre back Havard Nordtveit, he made his strength count in a corner kick scuffle and pushed the ball into the back of the net. Blackburn were playing pretty well though, Akinfeev had some work to do after the goal. Rafael Sobis doubled our lead before the break with a fine placed shot from the edge of the area, we were in control. Agnaldo and Demba Ba got their names on the score sheet after the interval, a good win in a game that was much more difficult than expected.
Our good run opened the gap a bit further, Manchester City are 10 points behind now! There are 10 more games to play and we surely have one hand on the title but we have to be careful, a couple of defeats could make the title chase wide open again.
We had one more game to play before the end of the month, the first leg of the Champions League battle with Bordeaux. They finished second in their group behind Barcelona and above Benfica. Their main strength seemed to be the attacking pair, Marouane Chamakh and Fernando Cavenaghi. We started the game well, we were controlling the midfield and took the lead 10 minutes into the game when Guilherme picked up a good through ball from Defour and slotted it home. Things changed after the goal, we were still in control but we were unable to create anything upfront, Bordeaux‘s defense was rock solid. The French team looked way more attacking after the interval, they were pushing forward and we were forced to defend. We did that pretty well until the 73rd minute when a misunderstanding between two of my players left Barnetta with an easy chance. We tried to react but despite having good ball possession we were unable to go anywhere interesting with the ball, our attacks were crumbling down before reaching the penalty area. The result was not bad but I am a bit worried about the second leg, we have to do much better than this to qualify.
Next month’s highlight will be the Carling Cup final, we’ll get to meet Liverpool again but this time I’m going to send in the best available eleven. We’ll also have an important league game with Chelsea and last but not least, the second leg of the Champions League encounter with Bordeaux.
That’s how it was folks, thanks for reading. The priority for March will be winning the Carling Cup and going through in the Champions League. Of course, I’d be extremely happy if we could keep the great league form :)
P.S.: I’d like to invite you to visit a brand new football site I’m writing for, it’s a website that offers daily football related polls. I have selected a question just for you: «Who will be England’s first choice right midfielder at the World Cup?» The answers so far indicate that most people would prefer Aaron Lennon:
I’d love to see you sharing your ideas over there, thanks.
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Laxeyman
6 марта, 2010 at 17:20
Hi Johnny, very good month there well done! I feel that the title is surely yours, maybe you can do the treble again, this time with the Carling Cup! A good result against Bordeaux, I think you’ll have enough to beat them at home.
Lye
6 марта, 2010 at 17:43
The title will definitely be yours mate, i don’t see any teams can snatch that away from you. Bordeaux seems to have a very good striking pair but i think your overall quality will prevail over them.
It will be another exciting match against Liverpool and this time with your strongest side, i believe you will bring the cup back. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
6 марта, 2010 at 19:04
@Lye and Laxeyman
Thanks for the comments folks. If we’ll manage to keep the good form in March there should be no more doubts about the title. I’m looking forward to the Carling Cup though. :)
TheZiggy
6 марта, 2010 at 20:27
Another good month. You should take the title with ease now you’ve given yourself such a good lead. Hope you can produce another great result over Liverpool to win the League Cup.
You’re in a great position against Bourdeaux, so hopefully you can beat them at home to take the victory over them.
ravenie
6 марта, 2010 at 21:46
Status Report: Guilherme won the golden boot and the european golden boot with 29 goals (rafael sobis of bordeaux came behind him with 28). I signed Jo, Caicedo, Afellay and a defensive mid and a left back. I got Jo and Caicedo cheap. Guilherme wants to leave Johnny, he rejected a contract offer and says he wants to push his career forward, if he has to leave could you recommend any potential replacement for goalscoring striker?
Johnny Karp
6 марта, 2010 at 22:09
@Ravenie
You should try to keep him for a while unless his contract is expiring. Rafael Sobis might be a good replacement.
@TheZiggy
Thanks mate, it won’t be easy with Bordeaux but I hope to make the home ground advantage count. I’m very confident about the Liverpool game, we gave them lots of trouble with the backup players so I guess the first team regulars might beat them quite clearly unless Torres will produce another amazing performance.
Kevin Mayo
6 марта, 2010 at 22:50
Hi Johnny
A ten point lead over your nearest rivals. Great stuff mate!
It’s going to take something special from the chasing pack to topple you from the head of the leader board. Great wins over Newcastle and a sorry looking Blackburn team. I thought that was a good move resting your players for the FA Cup game and paid off getting that all important away goal in Bordeaux. Well done!
PS I voted for SWP at least he knows what to do when he gets to the byline!
Johnny Karp
6 марта, 2010 at 22:54
Hey Kevin, thanks for the comment and for voting. I’m quite happy with the team’s performances and the gap is important because now I can rest a few players once in a while in less difficult league games.
ravenie
7 марта, 2010 at 11:16
Jo and Caicedo have surprised me with the goalscoring form, particularly Jo. I’e won qualification to the next round of europe have one away game to fiorentina, i’ll rest some players
Johnny Karp
7 марта, 2010 at 12:16
@Ravenie
Well done, those two can make you forget all about Guilherme :)
ravenie
7 марта, 2010 at 12:26
Just in case I get any substantial bid for him like in the 20s I’ll be searching for his replacement. Interestingly Demba is at Sampdoria.
Martin
7 марта, 2010 at 13:36
Well Done Johnny, Some Good Results Against Your Opposition And A Draw Away At Bordeaux Gives You The Advantage And I’m Sure You Can Go Much Further In The Champions League!
Btw, I’m In April Of The Same Season As You, My Team Is Really Settled And There’s Good Squad Harmony.
I’m Lying In 4th Spot After 33 Games And Still Have A Decent Shout For The Title But A Champions League Place Is More Realistic.
Johnny Karp
7 марта, 2010 at 13:55
Thanks Martin and congrats for your achievement, I’m proud of you :)
FootballManagerGuru
10 марта, 2010 at 04:32
The Title is almost in your hands Johnny! Congrats (: Just another good run of games and that’s another piece of silverware for you. The League Cup final is going to be a mouth watering affair, can’t wait to hear about it (:
hils
20 августа, 2010 at 10:29
Johnny Karp…………YOU ARE A BRILLIANT MANAGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The prem title is in your hands i think and i think you should win the carling cup and the champions league. in my game i have signed lee hodson from watford for 950k and jared nueokeman,i think that’s how you spell it,for 4.4 million from osauna and he’s scored on his debut against monterry!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
20 августа, 2010 at 10:46
Thanks mate. I see that you stick to Wenger’s policy of bringing youngsters to the club, well done!