The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
If Manchester United manage to overhaul Arsenal in the race for this year's Premiership title, it will be in no small part down to the efforts of neighbours Blackburn.
Graeme Souness' side easily overcame a ragbag Gunners side at Ewood Park to reduce the gap between the big two at the top to a couple of points, and in the process became the first team since Liverpool in 1998-9 to record a win double over Arsene Wenger's champions.
Damien Duff, on his return from six weeks on the sidelines, and Turkish midfielder Tugay were the goalscorers, but every Rovers player - and the manager - should take a bow for a performance of collective quality and endeavour.
Rarely can the old cliche about defending from the front have been so evident on the field this season. The front pairing of Dwight Yorke and Hakan Sukur never gave the visitors' defence a moment's peace, while Garry Flitcroft pressed possession relentlessly as well as protecting his defence, lying deep to negate the pace of Thierry Henry.
It all meant Arsenal were denied the plentiful possession with which they regularly wreak such havoc, and their play rapidly became remarkably ragged without Patrick Vieira to hold things together.
It helped that the Londoners were missing three of their first-choice back four, a situation which worsened considerably when Martin Keown hobbled out of the action before the 20-minute mark, leaving Brazilian Gilberto Silva to partner the put-upon Pascal Cygan in the middle at the back.
For the record, Silva looked by far the more convincing centre-half and will have given his manager something to think about ahead of Wednesday's vital Champions League visit to Valencia, but his introduction coincided with Arsenal's demise as an attacking force in the game.
Free-kicks from Henry and Giovanni van Bronckhorst had before then forced Brad Friedel to show he has not lost the form which almost single-handedly enabled Rovers to leave Highbury with maximum points back in October.
But the Dutchman had next-to-no opportunity to get forward, thanks to Souness' sensible ploy of starting with a second winger - Keith Gillespie - who time and again exposed the chronic lack of pace on the left of Arsenal's defence when Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are missing.
Both goals came from van Bronckhorst and Cygan's area of the pitch, and both were finished ruthlessly after some haphazard defending.
Duff bagged the first, volleying right-footed through Stuart Taylor's legs after his own miskick from Gillespie's centre had sparked a series of ricochets which went Rovers' way.
The second - which killed the game with more than half an hour remaining - was a sweet strike from 20 yards, though van Bronckhorst, Cygan and Taylor might all wince at their pitiful efforts when Wenger sits them down in front of a rerun on Monday morning.
Duff might have had another but for a smart, shovelled stop from Taylor, while Arsenal never looked capable of the kind of rapier counter-attacks which have earned them so many points on their travels in the past 18 months.
The sterling efforts of Craig Short and Henning Berg helped ensure that Dennis Bergkamp was anonymous and Henry peripheral, while Robert Pires failed to connect with a header two yards out before he was withdrawn.
All three will need to be in better form if Arsenal's European dream is to survive the Mestalla in midweek. As for the Premiership, Manchester United's April trip to Highbury is suddenly looking like a decider.
Graeme Souness' side easily overcame a ragbag Gunners side at Ewood Park to reduce the gap between the big two at the top to a couple of points, and in the process became the first team since Liverpool in 1998-9 to record a win double over Arsene Wenger's champions.
Damien Duff, on his return from six weeks on the sidelines, and Turkish midfielder Tugay were the goalscorers, but every Rovers player - and the manager - should take a bow for a performance of collective quality and endeavour.
Rarely can the old cliche about defending from the front have been so evident on the field this season. The front pairing of Dwight Yorke and Hakan Sukur never gave the visitors' defence a moment's peace, while Garry Flitcroft pressed possession relentlessly as well as protecting his defence, lying deep to negate the pace of Thierry Henry.
It all meant Arsenal were denied the plentiful possession with which they regularly wreak such havoc, and their play rapidly became remarkably ragged without Patrick Vieira to hold things together.
It helped that the Londoners were missing three of their first-choice back four, a situation which worsened considerably when Martin Keown hobbled out of the action before the 20-minute mark, leaving Brazilian Gilberto Silva to partner the put-upon Pascal Cygan in the middle at the back.
For the record, Silva looked by far the more convincing centre-half and will have given his manager something to think about ahead of Wednesday's vital Champions League visit to Valencia, but his introduction coincided with Arsenal's demise as an attacking force in the game.
Free-kicks from Henry and Giovanni van Bronckhorst had before then forced Brad Friedel to show he has not lost the form which almost single-handedly enabled Rovers to leave Highbury with maximum points back in October.
But the Dutchman had next-to-no opportunity to get forward, thanks to Souness' sensible ploy of starting with a second winger - Keith Gillespie - who time and again exposed the chronic lack of pace on the left of Arsenal's defence when Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are missing.
Both goals came from van Bronckhorst and Cygan's area of the pitch, and both were finished ruthlessly after some haphazard defending.
Duff bagged the first, volleying right-footed through Stuart Taylor's legs after his own miskick from Gillespie's centre had sparked a series of ricochets which went Rovers' way.
The second - which killed the game with more than half an hour remaining - was a sweet strike from 20 yards, though van Bronckhorst, Cygan and Taylor might all wince at their pitiful efforts when Wenger sits them down in front of a rerun on Monday morning.
Duff might have had another but for a smart, shovelled stop from Taylor, while Arsenal never looked capable of the kind of rapier counter-attacks which have earned them so many points on their travels in the past 18 months.
The sterling efforts of Craig Short and Henning Berg helped ensure that Dennis Bergkamp was anonymous and Henry peripheral, while Robert Pires failed to connect with a header two yards out before he was withdrawn.
All three will need to be in better form if Arsenal's European dream is to survive the Mestalla in midweek. As for the Premiership, Manchester United's April trip to Highbury is suddenly looking like a decider.
If Manchester United manage to overhaul Arsenal in the race for this year's Premiership title, it will be in no small part down to the efforts of neighbours Blackburn.
Graeme Souness' side easily overcame a ragbag Gunners side at Ewood Park to reduce the gap between the big two at the top to a couple of points, and in the process became the first team since Liverpool in 1998-9 to record a win double over Arsene Wenger's champions.
Damien Duff, on his return from six weeks on the sidelines, and Turkish midfielder Tugay were the goalscorers, but every Rovers player - and the manager - should take a bow for a performance of collective quality and endeavour.
Rarely can the old cliche about defending from the front have been so evident on the field this season. The front pairing of Dwight Yorke and Hakan Sukur never gave the visitors' defence a moment's peace, while Garry Flitcroft pressed possession relentlessly as well as protecting his defence, lying deep to negate the pace of Thierry Henry.
It all meant Arsenal were denied the plentiful possession with which they regularly wreak such havoc, and their play rapidly became remarkably ragged without Patrick Vieira to hold things together.
It helped that the Londoners were missing three of their first-choice back four, a situation which worsened considerably when Martin Keown hobbled out of the action before the 20-minute mark, leaving Brazilian Gilberto Silva to partner the put-upon Pascal Cygan in the middle at the back.
For the record, Silva looked by far the more convincing centre-half and will have given his manager something to think about ahead of Wednesday's vital Champions League visit to Valencia, but his introduction coincided with Arsenal's demise as an attacking force in the game.
Free-kicks from Henry and Giovanni van Bronckhorst had before then forced Brad Friedel to show he has not lost the form which almost single-handedly enabled Rovers to leave Highbury with maximum points back in October.
But the Dutchman had next-to-no opportunity to get forward, thanks to Souness' sensible ploy of starting with a second winger - Keith Gillespie - who time and again exposed the chronic lack of pace on the left of Arsenal's defence when Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are missing.
Both goals came from van Bronckhorst and Cygan's area of the pitch, and both were finished ruthlessly after some haphazard defending.
Duff bagged the first, volleying right-footed through Stuart Taylor's legs after his own miskick from Gillespie's centre had sparked a series of ricochets which went Rovers' way.
The second - which killed the game with more than half an hour remaining - was a sweet strike from 20 yards, though van Bronckhorst, Cygan and Taylor might all wince at their pitiful efforts when Wenger sits them down in front of a rerun on Monday morning.
Duff might have had another but for a smart, shovelled stop from Taylor, while Arsenal never looked capable of the kind of rapier counter-attacks which have earned them so many points on their travels in the past 18 months.
The sterling efforts of Craig Short and Henning Berg helped ensure that Dennis Bergkamp was anonymous and Henry peripheral, while Robert Pires failed to connect with a header two yards out before he was withdrawn.
All three will need to be in better form if Arsenal's European dream is to survive the Mestalla in midweek. As for the Premiership, Manchester United's April trip to Highbury is suddenly looking like a decider.
Graeme Souness' side easily overcame a ragbag Gunners side at Ewood Park to reduce the gap between the big two at the top to a couple of points, and in the process became the first team since Liverpool in 1998-9 to record a win double over Arsene Wenger's champions.
Damien Duff, on his return from six weeks on the sidelines, and Turkish midfielder Tugay were the goalscorers, but every Rovers player - and the manager - should take a bow for a performance of collective quality and endeavour.
Rarely can the old cliche about defending from the front have been so evident on the field this season. The front pairing of Dwight Yorke and Hakan Sukur never gave the visitors' defence a moment's peace, while Garry Flitcroft pressed possession relentlessly as well as protecting his defence, lying deep to negate the pace of Thierry Henry.
It all meant Arsenal were denied the plentiful possession with which they regularly wreak such havoc, and their play rapidly became remarkably ragged without Patrick Vieira to hold things together.
It helped that the Londoners were missing three of their first-choice back four, a situation which worsened considerably when Martin Keown hobbled out of the action before the 20-minute mark, leaving Brazilian Gilberto Silva to partner the put-upon Pascal Cygan in the middle at the back.
For the record, Silva looked by far the more convincing centre-half and will have given his manager something to think about ahead of Wednesday's vital Champions League visit to Valencia, but his introduction coincided with Arsenal's demise as an attacking force in the game.
Free-kicks from Henry and Giovanni van Bronckhorst had before then forced Brad Friedel to show he has not lost the form which almost single-handedly enabled Rovers to leave Highbury with maximum points back in October.
But the Dutchman had next-to-no opportunity to get forward, thanks to Souness' sensible ploy of starting with a second winger - Keith Gillespie - who time and again exposed the chronic lack of pace on the left of Arsenal's defence when Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are missing.
Both goals came from van Bronckhorst and Cygan's area of the pitch, and both were finished ruthlessly after some haphazard defending.
Duff bagged the first, volleying right-footed through Stuart Taylor's legs after his own miskick from Gillespie's centre had sparked a series of ricochets which went Rovers' way.
The second - which killed the game with more than half an hour remaining - was a sweet strike from 20 yards, though van Bronckhorst, Cygan and Taylor might all wince at their pitiful efforts when Wenger sits them down in front of a rerun on Monday morning.
Duff might have had another but for a smart, shovelled stop from Taylor, while Arsenal never looked capable of the kind of rapier counter-attacks which have earned them so many points on their travels in the past 18 months.
The sterling efforts of Craig Short and Henning Berg helped ensure that Dennis Bergkamp was anonymous and Henry peripheral, while Robert Pires failed to connect with a header two yards out before he was withdrawn.
All three will need to be in better form if Arsenal's European dream is to survive the Mestalla in midweek. As for the Premiership, Manchester United's April trip to Highbury is suddenly looking like a decider.
Why the fuss? 1 game lost, due to missing personnel at the back, and perhaps a rare averagely good performance from Rovers. It's really no big deal. The title is still in Arsenal's hands with superior goal difference and the same number of fixtures as man.utd and 2 points clear. Utd are in with a chance but will they take it? who's to know? If Arsenal ensure they win their remaining fixtures then the title comes home to highbury, but if we lack that 'finshing touch' and aren't ruthless in finishing teams off(because arsenal tend to relax as they are so used to winning, 'boring, boring arsenal'), then we may not finish on top, if this is the case it will be down to arsenal and only arsenal. Arsenal will determine who wins the title as they are in the driving seat, but only just.
bottom line = destiny of the title is down to Arsenal. We can win it or kindly give it to Man U out of sympathy.
bottom line = destiny of the title is down to Arsenal. We can win it or kindly give it to Man U out of sympathy.
Mr. Insane, why don't you ever credit the source you get these reports from?
Mr. Insane wrote:
> If Manchester United manage to overhaul Arsenal in the race for this
> year's Premiership title, it will be in no small part down to the
> efforts of neighbours Blackburn.
>
> Graeme Souness' side easily overcame a ragbag Gunners side at Ewood
> Park to reduce the gap between the big two at the top to a couple of
> points, and in the process became the first team since Liverpool in
> 1998-9 to record a win double over Arsene Wenger's champions.
>
> Damien Duff, on his return from six weeks on the sidelines, and
> Turkish midfielder Tugay were the goalscorers, but every Rovers player
> - and the manager - should take a bow for a performance of collective
> quality and endeavour.
>
> Rarely can the old cliche about defending from the front have been so
> evident on the field this season. The front pairing of Dwight Yorke
> and Hakan Sukur never gave the visitors' defence a moment's peace,
> while Garry Flitcroft pressed possession relentlessly as well as
> protecting his defence, lying deep to negate the pace of Thierry
> Henry.
>
> It all meant Arsenal were denied the plentiful possession with which
> they regularly wreak such havoc, and their play rapidly became
> remarkably ragged without Patrick Vieira to hold things together.
>
> It helped that the Londoners were missing three of their first-choice
> back four, a situation which worsened considerably when Martin Keown
> hobbled out of the action before the 20-minute mark, leaving Brazilian
> Gilberto Silva to partner the put-upon Pascal Cygan in the middle at
> the back.
>
> For the record, Silva looked by far the more convincing centre-half
> and will have given his manager something to think about ahead of
> Wednesday's vital Champions League visit to Valencia, but his
> introduction coincided with Arsenal's demise as an attacking force in
> the game.
>
> Free-kicks from Henry and Giovanni van Bronckhorst had before then
> forced Brad Friedel to show he has not lost the form which almost
> single-handedly enabled Rovers to leave Highbury with maximum points
> back in October.
>
> But the Dutchman had next-to-no opportunity to get forward, thanks to
> Souness' sensible ploy of starting with a second winger - Keith
> Gillespie - who time and again exposed the chronic lack of pace on the
> left of Arsenal's defence when Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are
> missing.
>
> Both goals came from van Bronckhorst and Cygan's area of the pitch,
> and both were finished ruthlessly after some haphazard defending.
>
> Duff bagged the first, volleying right-footed through Stuart Taylor's
> legs after his own miskick from Gillespie's centre had sparked a
> series of ricochets which went Rovers' way.
>
> The second - which killed the game with more than half an hour
> remaining - was a sweet strike from 20 yards, though van Bronckhorst,
> Cygan and Taylor might all wince at their pitiful efforts when Wenger
> sits them down in front of a rerun on Monday morning.
>
> Duff might have had another but for a smart, shovelled stop from
> Taylor, while Arsenal never looked capable of the kind of rapier
> counter-attacks which have earned them so many points on their travels
> in the past 18 months.
>
> The sterling efforts of Craig Short and Henning Berg helped ensure
> that Dennis Bergkamp was anonymous and Henry peripheral, while Robert
> Pires failed to connect with a header two yards out before he was
> withdrawn.
>
> All three will need to be in better form if Arsenal's European dream
> is to survive the Mestalla in midweek. As for the Premiership,
> Manchester United's April trip to Highbury is suddenly looking like a
> decider.
Another brilliant result for Man U. I honestly think that Man U will win the league this year. COME ON MANCHESTER UNITED !!!!!!!
> If Manchester United manage to overhaul Arsenal in the race for this
> year's Premiership title, it will be in no small part down to the
> efforts of neighbours Blackburn.
>
> Graeme Souness' side easily overcame a ragbag Gunners side at Ewood
> Park to reduce the gap between the big two at the top to a couple of
> points, and in the process became the first team since Liverpool in
> 1998-9 to record a win double over Arsene Wenger's champions.
>
> Damien Duff, on his return from six weeks on the sidelines, and
> Turkish midfielder Tugay were the goalscorers, but every Rovers player
> - and the manager - should take a bow for a performance of collective
> quality and endeavour.
>
> Rarely can the old cliche about defending from the front have been so
> evident on the field this season. The front pairing of Dwight Yorke
> and Hakan Sukur never gave the visitors' defence a moment's peace,
> while Garry Flitcroft pressed possession relentlessly as well as
> protecting his defence, lying deep to negate the pace of Thierry
> Henry.
>
> It all meant Arsenal were denied the plentiful possession with which
> they regularly wreak such havoc, and their play rapidly became
> remarkably ragged without Patrick Vieira to hold things together.
>
> It helped that the Londoners were missing three of their first-choice
> back four, a situation which worsened considerably when Martin Keown
> hobbled out of the action before the 20-minute mark, leaving Brazilian
> Gilberto Silva to partner the put-upon Pascal Cygan in the middle at
> the back.
>
> For the record, Silva looked by far the more convincing centre-half
> and will have given his manager something to think about ahead of
> Wednesday's vital Champions League visit to Valencia, but his
> introduction coincided with Arsenal's demise as an attacking force in
> the game.
>
> Free-kicks from Henry and Giovanni van Bronckhorst had before then
> forced Brad Friedel to show he has not lost the form which almost
> single-handedly enabled Rovers to leave Highbury with maximum points
> back in October.
>
> But the Dutchman had next-to-no opportunity to get forward, thanks to
> Souness' sensible ploy of starting with a second winger - Keith
> Gillespie - who time and again exposed the chronic lack of pace on the
> left of Arsenal's defence when Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are
> missing.
>
> Both goals came from van Bronckhorst and Cygan's area of the pitch,
> and both were finished ruthlessly after some haphazard defending.
>
> Duff bagged the first, volleying right-footed through Stuart Taylor's
> legs after his own miskick from Gillespie's centre had sparked a
> series of ricochets which went Rovers' way.
>
> The second - which killed the game with more than half an hour
> remaining - was a sweet strike from 20 yards, though van Bronckhorst,
> Cygan and Taylor might all wince at their pitiful efforts when Wenger
> sits them down in front of a rerun on Monday morning.
>
> Duff might have had another but for a smart, shovelled stop from
> Taylor, while Arsenal never looked capable of the kind of rapier
> counter-attacks which have earned them so many points on their travels
> in the past 18 months.
>
> The sterling efforts of Craig Short and Henning Berg helped ensure
> that Dennis Bergkamp was anonymous and Henry peripheral, while Robert
> Pires failed to connect with a header two yards out before he was
> withdrawn.
>
> All three will need to be in better form if Arsenal's European dream
> is to survive the Mestalla in midweek. As for the Premiership,
> Manchester United's April trip to Highbury is suddenly looking like a
> decider.
Another brilliant result for Man U. I honestly think that Man U will win the league this year. COME ON MANCHESTER UNITED !!!!!!!
You noob.