Red Rebels

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When England was pushed to the forefront of public opinion among fans around the world because of its charity auction during the winter break, instead, the entire European football environment entered a cold winter.

This should be the bleakest winter break in recent years.

European mainstream media all have a helpless attitude towards the indifference of the transfer market during this season's winter break.

However, under the influence of the financial crisis, and when other European leagues began to cut back on money during the winter break, England has made several expensive transfers one after another, and its two clubs, Chelsea and Manchester City, are still carrying out continuous operations. Small signings.

After Ancelotti dismissed get out of class, Abramovich failed to find the right man for Chelsea for a while, and Grant continued to serve as the interim head coach. However, in view of the current situation of Chelsea, in the winter break transfer market, in addition to the 5 million from Bolton In addition to Anelka, Sterling also introduced Ivanovic from Lokomotiv Moscow. This player is a versatile backcourt player who can play defender and right back. Chelsea paid 9 million pounds for this.

Manchester City's move was not small either. They introduced Brazilian international Ellano from Shakhtar Donetsk, and also introduced English midfielder Barry from Aston Villa. The two transfers cost Manchester City a total of million pounds. This has also caused quite a stir in the transfer market.

Bolton are currently mulling over £5 million in the transfer market in order to avoid relegation. Aston Villa values ​​Middlesbrough winger Downing, but it is difficult to get Martin O'Neill. For promising young rookies, they must spend Barry's transfer income.

In this year when the financial crisis is getting worse, all clubs are beginning to make careful calculations.

But it was also at this time that everyone realized that the overall business of Ying had unknowingly become very healthy and had not been greatly affected by the financial crisis, including Middlesbrough. To avoid relegation in the English League this season, the Dutch top scorer Alfonso Alves was purchased for £0 million last season. This Heerenveen striker scored 4 goals in every game in the Dutch League last season. Scored goals in 8 league games this season.

By purchasing this popular goal-scoring machine, Middlesbrough's goal is very clear. It is to first realize its desire to stay in the UK. After all, with the general rise of new talents in the UK, many teams including Newcastle and Middlesbrough At this time, all traditional strong teams have fallen into worries about relegation.

In addition to Middlesbrough, several other English teams have also made moves during the winter break, either introducing players to address the club's shortcomings, or purchasing suitable stars to increase the thickness of the bench and better prepare for the second half. season.

Regarding the excitement of transfers during the winter break in England,

European media have generally paid attention to it. They believe that the financial health policy adhered to by the British in recent seasons has largely helped the club resist the financial crisis, allowing them to still have a strong position even in the face of such a difficult situation. purchasing power.

In addition, some media predict that this situation will become more obvious during the summer transfer. After all, English clubs will be able to receive a series of income such as bonuses and transfer fee sharing, which will make them more of great wealth.

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After a two-week winter break, the English League has reignited the war, and the first to usher in is the League Cup semi-finals.

Since there were only days between this semi-final and the following home game against Droylsden, and considering the upcoming schedule, Mourinho finally decided to continue to arrange a semi-main and semi-substitute lineup. .

The semi-finals of the English League Cup adopt a two-leg knockout system, with the Red Rebels challenging Everton away in the first leg.

Moyes's team's record this season can be said to be a high start but a low start. After a crazy start to the season, and after entering a two-front battle, the results have declined. Currently, they can only be reduced to the same role as last season, or even Even competing for the UEFA Cup is not easy.

It is precisely because of this that Moyes focused on the League Cup. After all, they reached the semi-finals.

In fact, Moyes's plan is not just the League Cup. In fact, he also has a greater ambition, the Champions League.

The UEFA Cup was reformed this season. Everton's strong knockout round before Christmas, the total score of the two rounds: eliminated the Norwegian team Brann, and successfully entered the top six knockout rounds.

After the reform of the UEFA Cup, reaching the championship and runner-up will get tickets for the Champions League group stage next season. This is a great temptation for the upper reaches of the major European leagues, so the competition in the top six knockout rounds It also became very intense and very variable.

Moyes' idea is simple: win the League Cup to ensure qualification for the UEFA Cup next season, and then focus on attacking the UEFA Cup in the second half of the season, strive to reach the final, and get tickets for next season's Champions League.

You know, reaching the Champions League is equivalent to an income of more than 10 million pounds for a travel team. This money will allow Moyes to introduce a group of players in the summer transfer market and increase the team's bench. strength.

As long as they win the League Cup and ensure their qualification for the UEFA Cup next season, regardless of the final league ranking, Everton's task this season has been completed. After all, they can no longer follow the Red Rebels and Manchester United in the rankings. When the team competes for the championship and reaches the top four in the league, the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League is slim, right?

But Moyes' plan also has risks, because with the linkage between the UEFA Cup and the Champions League, qualification for the UEFA Cup is also very expensive. The attention of various English clubs to the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup has also increased, especially the lower reaches of the team. Even some English Championship teams are trying their best to reach the UEFA Cup.

Just imagine, in the FA Cup, which is known as the hotbed of unpopularity, a team from the English Championship or a lower league wins the FA Cup and enters the UEFA Cup next season, recreating the glory of the Red Rebels. , maybe there is still a chance to reach the Champions League in an upset.

Of course, everyone knows that this is a dream, but dreams are the motivation for countless people

Take a look at this season’s League Cup semi-finals. Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Red Rebels and Everton are two teams that are temporarily ranked among the top four in the UK. Two of them have already entered the UEFA Cup qualifying zone. Very dangerous team.

Then look at the results of the round

In the League Cup round against the Red Rebels at home, Moyes sent out all the main players to try to win the Red Rebels at home.

Although Mourinho's team took advantage of Everton's mistake in the 6th minute, and Asa assisted Walcott to score the leading goal, but following it, Everton successively took advantage of the Red Rebels' defense. Made two mistakes and scored two goals in a row, reversing the Red Rebels at home and winning the round.

As for Arsenal, it was also for the upcoming home battle with Birmingham City. They also lined up a number of substitutes in the League Cup. As a result, they suffered a big setback against Tottenham, who used all their main players to play. If it weren't for If Benzema comes on as a substitute in the 8th minute and scores an equalizer for Arsenal, Arsenal will lose at home.

Tottenham and Everton are in similar situations. They both desperately want to make a difference in the League Cup. Especially when the competition in the league is so fierce, they obviously believe that the cup has become the best way to go. Path to European fixtures.

Then what is surprising is that in the following English first round, Everton and Tottenham both arranged half main and half substitute lineups to play in the English League. The results were: home o: lost to Manchester City, away: o lost. Chelsea.

The craziest thing in this round of the English League is undoubtedly Manchester United. After the winter break, Manchester United exploded again. They slaughtered Newcastle 6:0 at home. Robinho successfully played a peak game and performed a hat-trick. Rooney Scoring twice, Quaresma scored, taking all of Manchester United's goals.

The Red Rebels faced the tenacious Droylsden at home. Only 6 minutes after the start, Ronaldinho broke through Otamendi on the left, cut into the penalty area and shot long-range, piercing the Droylsden goal. , gave the Red Rebels the lead, but 8 minutes later, Dzeko headed a header outside the penalty area, and Forlan volleyed near the penalty spot to equalize the score for Droylsden.

After that, both teams had their own offense and defense. Mourinho and Pellegrini both strictly restricted the opponent's tactics and refused to let the other party take advantage of the slightest bit.

As the game progressed, Mourinho finally replaced the key boy Ismail again, and the tactics returned to the old tradition of the Magic Quartet, but Aguero was arranged to press forward even more, cruising around Ismail. beside.

This adjustment immediately boosted the Red Rebels' offensive.

In the 76th minute, Ismail headed the ball, and Messi suddenly shot a cold arrow from the right side of the penalty area. Joe Hart was very focused and saved the ball, but Aguero followed up and made a supplementary shot:

Less than 5 minutes later, Michael Johnson, who came on as a substitute for Beckham, made a long pass from the road. Ismail pulled Jagielka back, and Ronaldinho smoothly cut into the gap and received the ball. Then he walked directly into the penalty area, faced Joe Hart, and scored a single goal calmly:

This score did not change again in the end and remained until the end.

But after this stalemate, the Red Rebels will soon face an away game against Portsmouth, so Mourinho finally arranged a half-main and half-substitute lineup for the League Cup semi-finals. After all, for the Red Rebels, the league and Champions League are the key, and everything else doesn't matter.

Despite this, the young players of the Red Rebels still performed very well in the second leg of the semi-finals against Everton at home. Moyes' team was thinking about defense from the beginning. They did not dare to play in the second leg of the semi-finals at home. Red Rebel Stadium slacked off a bit.

The double defensive midfielder composed of Aaron Ramsey and Rodwell helped the Red Rebels control the game and planned wave after wave of offensives. They firmly suppressed Everton throughout the game. , but helplessly, Moyes developed a turtle tactic, sticking to the penalty area and refusing to go out, and finally dragged the score to o:o.

In this way, the Red Rebels failed with a total score of: in two rounds and were eliminated from the League Cup.

However, in this game, many young players such as Aaron Ramsey, Rodwell, Thornton, Fabio and Rafael performed very well and impressed people, which also made people see the red The Rebels youth academy has excellent star-making ability.

The Red Rebels o:o suffered a draw with Everton. Although they were eliminated, they at least received a lot of praise, especially the outstanding performance of a group of young players, but Arsenal seemed a bit miserable.

Wenger also arranged for many young players to play, but at Tottenham's White Hart Lane Stadium, Arsenal was scored 5 goals in one breath. Fortunately, at the last moment, Adebayor came on and saved Arsenal's face, otherwise If so, Wenger's face will definitely look even more ugly.

Giving up the League Cup is indeed a bit surprising, but after the reform of the UEFA Cup, many English teams have indeed seen the hope of entering the Champions League from the UEFA Cup, and UEFA Cup qualification has become extremely precious.

Besides, there are 8 rounds in the league, so giving up a round is not a big problem. If you can get qualification for the UEFA Cup, it will be worth it no matter what.

Not only the League Cup, the competition for the FA Cup is also fierce.

In the first round of the English League, after the Red Rebels defeated Portsmouth in an away game: 4, Mourinho sent out a number of substitute players to face Swindon away from home.

As if feeling the temptation of the UEFA Cup, Swindon also performed bravely in the home game, and even overwhelmed the young players of the Red Rebels in the game. However, in this game, the team's veteran defender Tula was in charge of the defense. Damn, the French guard taught these boys a vivid lesson at a critical moment.

In the 6th minute of the second half, Thuram took advantage of a corner kick to open the scoring for the Red Rebels from the front post. His goal was like pulling green grass from dry land, so that Swindon's goalkeeper had no time to react, and could only dejectedly score from the goalkeeper. Fish out the ball.

Afterwards, Thuram continued to encourage this group of young teammates during the game, telling them that they should not be afraid of Swindon's hard work, and should not be afraid of Swindon's ruthlessness, and he set an example himself. They were ruthless. We must be more ruthless than them

Thuram's outstanding performance infected his teammates, and the young players of the Red Rebels responded quickly.

In the 8th minute, after Davide Thornton and Walcott cooperated on the left, Walcott entered the penalty area and faced the goalkeeper calmly passing the ball to the back post. Rafael, who was playing on the right wing, rushed in time. To, scored his first goal since joining the Red Rebels.

But minutes later, Aaron Ramsey also stepped in and showed off his exquisite footwork in the front area of ​​the penalty area. When faced with the three opponents' attacks, he still calmly used his personal abilities to avoid the fight. An exquisite scalpel-like through ball passed through the seam, assisting Pato to score the first goal from the back row.

In this way, the Red Rebels defeated Swindon away from home.

But Manchester United and Manchester City, the two bitter rivals of the Red Rebels, were not so lucky. Manchester United challenged Plymouth away, but was ruthlessly defeated by the latter. Manchester City lost to Sheffield United, and Chelsea lost 4 away games. : Lost to Wigan of Greater Manchester.

In just the fourth round, the FA Cup has already staged a huge upset, plus many English teams such as West Ham United, Blackburn, and Bolton were eliminated in the first round.

This suddenly made people see the cruelty of the FA Cup. The entire British media was cheering, and the upset came to the FA Cup again.