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Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

English Premiership Football Preview Weeks 18 through 21

Christopher Rose — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 14:47:03 EST

The Christmas and New Year period is always the start of the most insane period of footballing intensity as every Premiership team and supporter in the Premiership has to endure four vital matches in eight days through the holiday period. Apologies for limited coverage at this crucial turning point halfway through the season.Things get started with the Boxing Day games making up Week 18 which look like this Fixtures and Predictions for Monday 26th December 2005 Aston Villa v Everton Everton just Charlton Athletic v Arsenal Arsenal easily, alas Chelsea v Fulham Chelsea unfortunately Liverpool v Newcastle United Liverpool win Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion Routine home win Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers Looks like a draw Portsmouth v West Ham United Looks like a draw Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers Bolton easily Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City Another win for Spurs Wigan Athletic v Manchester City Wigan to win Scarcely are those games over then begins the Week 19 round of games just forty-eight hours later Fixtures and Predictions for Wednesday 28th December 2005 Arsenal v Portsmouth Arsenal to win Birmingham City v Manchester United Another Red victory Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland Blackburn to edge it Bolton Wanderers v Middlesbrough Tight home win Everton v Liverpool Looks like Liverpool Fulham v Aston Villa I expect a draw Manchester City v Chelsea Hopefully a tie Newcastle United v Charlton Athletic Much-needed home win West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur Routine away win West Ham United v Wigan Athletic Wigan to win As if that wasn't enough, the football monster just won't stop and only three days later the "Week" 20 round of fixtures bring 2005 to a close with the New Year's Eve fixtures Fixtures and Predictions for Saturday 31st December 2005 Aston Villa v Arsenal Arsenal win Charlton Athletic v West Ham United A draw Chelsea v Birmingham City Can't see Chelsea losing Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion Another hard day for WBA Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers Narrow home win Middlesbrough v Manchester City Score draw Portsmouth v Fulham A rare Pompey win Sunderland v Everton Sadness for Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Spurs to win a thriller Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers Wigan to win, just If that wasn't enough to make any athlete's foot fall off, scarcely is the New Year started before there's the week 21 fixtures: Fixtures and Predictions for Monday 2nd January 2006 Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic Points shared Blackburn Rovers v Portsmouth Home win Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool Probably the Pool Everton v Charlton Athletic Much-needed home win Fulham v Sunderland Fulham to win Newcastle United v Middlesbrough Home derby win West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Home derby win West Ham United v Chelsea Hopefully home win The madness is rounded off with the last but not least stragglers as on Tuesday 3rd January Arsenal host Manchester United in a match both teams will feel they can win but the Red Devils need is greater and I believe they will prevail.The final game before a welcome ten day break is on Wednesday 4th when Manchester City entertain visitors Tottenham Hotspur but I expect the Londoners to just edge a tight thriller of a match.

A lifelong fan of Manchester United and a passionate lover of music and science fiction, I live in Antequera in the heart of Southern Spain. In addition to serving here as Comments Editor and Blogcritics Forum Admin/Moderator, I also publish a variety of independent online sites. These currently include a bunch of intermittent blogs covering everything from dieting to robots and, most recently, Eurocritics Magazine. My wife and I also run an affordable luxury villa rental in Spain if you're thinking of a holiday!

English Premiership Football Preview Week 17

Christopher Rose — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 12:28:38 EST

The Match of the Day for this week's Premiership round isn't until Sunday, when Arsenal host Chelsea in one of the most important fixtures this season, a game that will be hugely influential on this season's title race.Victory for Arsenal throws the title race wide open; a win for Chelsea will massively disappoint the chasing pack. With both teams having massive European matches to ponder in February, against Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively (and what thrilling prospects they are too, I can't wait!), victory will be vital to both teams' moral and self-belief. Having fallen behind in the table, Arsenal's need is greater and I'm going to call a home win.Saturday games don't lack interest however, as Aston Villa will hope in vain to get anything from the visit of an improving Manchester United in the lunchtime game; in the afternoon, Everton v Bolton will be a fullblooded and skillful battle that could go either way but I expect Everton to pinch it; Fulham v Blackburn is another exciting prospect and I believe Blackburn are going to pick up some welcome away points.The basement battle of Portsmouth v West Bromwich Albion, Pompey's first home game after the return of Harry Redknapp, will be a fascinating test of which of these new boys have best learned the art of Premier League survival and I believe West Brom, under former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson, are learning faster and will win.In the other Saturday games, West Ham United entertain Newcastle United but the only thing to unite these two skillful battlers will be the tied result and Wigan Athletic should return to winning ways against a suddenly vulnerable Charlton Athletic. Manchester City stuttered last week whilst Birmingham prospered but I see nothing but role reversal today and the Sky Blues soaring to victory in the late game.Before this week's football is brought to a close by the battle of the London titans, earlier Sunday the third London team, the increasingly impressive Tottenham Hotspur, make a visit to moody Middlesbrough, but I predict only depression for the North East of England as Spurs win in style.This preview also appears on my secondary blog About Manchester United.

English Premiership Football Preview Week 16

Christopher Rose — Fri, 9 Dec 2005 22:35:06 EST

After all the recent excitements and distractions of Champions League football and the World Cup 2006 draw, it's back to the no less heady bread and butter of domestic Premiership football.For the second week in a row, Liverpool get the football festival started with the lunchtime visit of Middlesbrough and I predict a routine home win.Saturday's five afternoon games offer a mixed bag:-Birmingham City will be looking to return to some kind of form for the visit of Fulham and I believe they will, to record a rare victory; Blackburn Rovers versus West Ham United should be a great match but I see it ending even; Bolton Wanderers should prove too strong for an improving though still weak Aston Villa; Charlton Athletic have been stumbling lately and if Sunderland have any hope of escaping the yawning pit of relegation, they've got to beat teams like this but I can't see it, a draw at best but probably another home win.Match of the day is easily Chelsea v Wigan Athletic and, although most people outside West London would welcome it, I can't see the Northern lads going home with any points. Last but not least, West Bromwich Albion will put up a very strong fight against visitors Manchester City but ultimately be overwhelmed.The late game is another potential thriller as Newcastle United, the hard men of England lead by Shearer and Owen, take on the continental charmers of Arsenal. I foresee fast paced attacking football, a ferocious midfield battle and a narrow victory for the Geordies.The Sunday match is bound to produce fireworks as Manchester United host near neighbours Everton. Let's hope United's Wayne Rooney and Everton's Phil Neville both remember they don't play for their former clubs anymore. This is probably going to be the best game of the weekend and I expect the Red Devils to put recent disasters behind them and run out clear winners.The Monday night match sees the resurgent Tottenham Hotspur host Portsmouth, who will be hoping the return of manager Harry Redknapp will bring a turn of fortune. It may well do that, but not this weekend as Spurs keep their drive for Europe rolling.This Premiership Preview is cross-posted on my football blog About Manchester United.

English Premiership Football Preview, Week 15

Christopher Rose — Sat, 3 Dec 2005 11:11:06 EST

There are some cracking matches in store in the Premiership this first weekend of December 2005, starting with the Saturday lunchtime match when the gathering force that is Liverpool should prove to strong for fading visitors Wigan Athletic.The traditional three o'clock games feature a fistful of fiery fixtures which I predict will see a stuttering Blackburn Rovers being just too strong for underperforming Everton; Bolton Wanderers will do well to hold visitors Arsenal to a draw; barring an earthquake in West London it's hard to see leaders Chelsea failing to beat an unpredictable Middlesbrough; Newcastle United versus Aston Villa could go either way as both these struggling teams look to build some momentum but I expect Newcastle to take all three points; if Tottenham Hotspur are serious about their European aspirations, they'll treat the visit of bottom placed Sunderland as a chance for some serious goalscoring; meanwhile in the basement battle of the weekend, West Bromwich Albion will confirm their recent improvement against Fulham and will go above them in the table if they win by 3 goals or more. The most emotional match of the day will be in the North West as a grieving Manchester United will look to mark the funeral of George Best this morning with a stylish victory against currently managerless Portsmouth.The Sunday fixture offers the prospect of a feast of attacking football as the positive minded teams of Charlton Athletic and Manchester City collide in East London and I suspect The Sky Blues will head home the happier.This week's games are wrapped up with the Monday night game between the seriously underperforming Birmingham City and a sparkling West Ham United, who should take all three points.

English Premiership Football Preview Week 14

Christopher Rose — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 19:12:55 EST

Winter's starting to bite in Blighty and so is the tension in The Premier League as the season unfolds but this week's fixtures are guaranteed to keep you warm.With no lunchtime game this week there's five at three on Saturday as Arsenal host Blackburn Rovers and should win; Aston Villa will do well to avoid defeat by visitors Charlton Athletic; Manchester City should beat Liverpool if they play well but have stuttered recently; Sunderland are already looking marked for relegation and Birmingham City should take advantage.The game of the day must be Wigan Athletic versus Tottenham Hotspur, with both these attacking teams looking to keep pace with runaway leaders Chelsea, who have an evening out at struggling Portsmouth.Sunday offers a veritable marathon of football spanning almost six hours, starting with Everton v Newcastle United, which most years you'd fancy Everton to win, but not this season - Newcastle to pick up valuable away points is my call. Fulham will be looking to make progress against Bolton Wanderers but I predict more disappointment for The Cottagers.Former Alex Ferguson assistant Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough will be severely tested by the visit of United ex-captain Bryan Robson's West Bromwich Albion but should just edge a tight game. The pupils' former boss takes Manchester United to London's East End to visit West Ham United for a stern test of both teams resources, including Rio Ferdinand facing younger brother Anton, but I expect the phoenix to fly for the Red Devils tonight.This post originally posted here on About Manchester United

English Premiership Football Preview, Week 12

Christopher Rose — Mon, 7 Nov 2005 15:58:09 EST

There's some great fixtures in the Premiership this English Bonfire Night weekend, starting with a bang in the Saturday lunchtime fixture when Aston Villa, whose midterm fadeout has started early this season, entertain a resurgent Liverpool.The traditional three o'clock kickoffs feature some real firecrackers, not least when Arsenal host the demoralised Sunderland for what should be an easy win, however Blackburn versus Charlton looks a bit of a possible damp squib and a probable 0-0 draw.On the other hand, Fulham v Manchester City looks a real sparkler and could go either way; Newcastle should rocket against a struggling Birmingham; and West Ham should have too much gunpowder for those other Westies, West Brom.The late afternoon fixture will be played after dark, so expect Portsmouth to be outshone by the high flying rocket that is Wigan Athletic.The biggest explosions are reserved for Sunday when the twisted firestarters of Middlesbrough head for the obstinately soggy fuse we know as Everton. Literally anything could happen with these two unpredictable shooting stars in this late lunchtime game.Without a doubt, the biggest bangs of all will emanate from Old Trafford, when the unpredictable catherine wheel that is Manchester United will be hoping to raise their game for the visit of the giant roman candle that is league leaders Chelsea at 4pm.The week winds down with a Monday night barbecue when the crackers at Bolton Wanderers are visited by the giant thunderflash of Tottenham Hotspur. Stand well back for your own safety - sparks are surely going to fly between two ambitious teams currently locked together in joint third place.This preview originally posted here on About Manchester United on Saturday morning but could not be placed here until now due to technical difficulties beyond our control.

English Premiership Football Preview, Week 11

Christopher Rose — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 16:46:22 EDT

The dramatic tension of the Premiership is really starting to build now as the heady outlines of glory and failure begin to take shape for all twenty teams.The fever starts to build with the two lunchtime fixtures where high flying debutantes Wigan Athletic should prove too strong for struggling visitors Fulham. Meanwhile in the match of the day, Spurs entertain Arsenal with their best chance for years of winning the at times heated North London derby. Arsenal's heart, in the shape of Thierry Henry, misses the game due to injury so the likelihood of Wenger's boys taking advantage of the chance to catch the newly confident Tottendam (sic) looks slim.In the five three o'clock kickoffs, there's an into-the-valley-of-relegation battle between two seriously underperforming teams as Birmingham host Everton; it's second versus seventh as Charlton hope to resist the attacking verve of Bolton Wanderers; whilst the leaders Chelsea will be hoping both to recover momentum against Blackburn Rovers and that there's no re-run of the pitched battle between the two teams we saw last season. Liverpool will be hoping to avoid further embarrassment against the improving West Ham and in the other basement battle two teams struggle desperately for air as Sunderland face Portsmouth.The late afternoon match sees the unpredictable Middlesboro host the so far inconsistent Manchester United in a game in which literally anything can happen but, as United keeper Edwin van der Sar says: "The season is going to stand or fall on our two results this week. There is already a gap between ourselves and Chelsea [who we play on November 6th], so that will only be an important game if we win on Saturday".Sunday sees West Brom looking to keep their recent good run going against the dangerously wounded beast that is Newcastle United but I expect the Toon Army to prevail and the month of October and this week's round of matches is brought to a close on Monday night as the high-flying Sky Blues of Manchester City will look to take advantage of a struggling Aston Villa.This article cross-posted here on About Manchester United.

English Premiership Football Preview, Week 10

Christopher Rose — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 12:11:09 EDT

This week's Premiership fixtures kick off with the Saturday lunchtime game between Mark Hughes' Blackburn Rovers and Steve Bruce's Birmingham City, as the two former Manchester United players, now rival managers, compete for vital points.Birmingham need the points more as they look to get a so far disappointing season turned around but Blackburn are becoming hard to beat; probably a draw waiting to happen but, if there is a winner, it's more likely to be the Rovers.In the main group of Saturday afternoon matches, the standout game is obviously at Old Trafford as third placed Manchester United host the much improved Tottenham Hotspur who are currently lying in a well-deserved second spot. United have been stuttering a lot recently due to a bloated injury list, now even longer due to the mid-week fracture of Welsh winger Ryan Giggs' cheekbone by a French elbow, and will be desperate for a victory over the new second best team in London.Elsewhere, the former second best team in London, Arsenal, host the continuingly impressive Manchester City, who will be looking to maintain their good start. Perennial strugglers Aston Villa host this season's surprise package Wigan Athletic, currently flying high in sixth place in their first ever Premiership season, whilst Fulham will hope to get at least a draw against a Liverpool side boosted by the return of Steve Gerrard.The late afternoon match sees strugglers Portsmouth entertain high flyers Charlton Athletic down on the South Coast of England - and down is likely where they are going to remain against the well-organized Londoners.The four Sunday matches start with the prospect of a cracking North East derby as two teams with a lot to prove go for it as Newcastle United host Sunderland. It could get hot in St James Park at lunchtime...Later, Bolton Wanderers are having another good season so far and will be looking to consolidate against promoted West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United will be looking to bounce back from last week's defeat for the visit of Middlesborough, one place below them.This week's fixtures are brought to a close with the 4 pm kickoff of this season's surprise whipping boys Everton, currently propping up the table, having to face the runaway leaders Chelsea. All non-Chelsea fans will doubtless be hoping to see The Toffees end the Londoners' perfect start, probably in vain.This football preview also appears here on About Manchester United.