Rooney Triple, EPL Update, Photo of the Week

While you're kneedeep in turkey-a-la-king, turkey casserole, and endless turkey sandwiches, it's time to talk footy.
Manchester United put in a gutsy performance against Pompey at Fratton Park today.  Newly-inspired by their newly-hired manager, Avram Grant (former C-Scum boss), the Pompsters put up a pumped-up performance in the first half, but it was all United from there on.  Wayne Rooney put the Reds on the board when he was upended in the box by Michael Brown. 

Zinging in the Rain

Official Mike Dean, however, gave Portsmouth a boost with his ill-advised penalty nine minutes later (on the advice of his assistant).  No one (including the Pompey faithful) knew why he gave the penalty, but supposedly he charged Reds defender Nemanja Vidic with a foul against Frederic Picquionne.  Look at the photo below and try to pick out the foulers from the fouled:

Wes Brown seems to be carrying everyone!

Kevin-Prince Boateng (yes, the hyphen is in the correct place) fired home from the spot and Pompey had leveled 1-1.  But not before the entire United side pleaded with Mike Dean:

"What up wit dat pen, man?"

A few minutes into the second half, Rooney scored his second thanks to some fine footwork from Fletcher and Giggs.  United 1-2.

Can't touch this... (and no, he wasn't offside)

Eight minutes later, the veteran winger Giggs (who turns 36 tomorrow), was tripped up by Picquionne in the box and Rooney fired home from the spot for his hat-trick. 1-3

Pompey 0-1 United

By now the rain was pouring down (Portsmouth is on the rainy south coast of England) and United was raining on Grant's parade.  Pompey had a few chances, but thanks to a stellar performance from Kuszczak, the idiotic penalty was their only score.

To prove he is not to old to show up the young ones, Giggs earned a freekick in the 88th minute.  It looked as though Rooney would go for a fourth goal, but after a fake, Giggs fired home for his 100th goal for United.  1-4

Goal 100 for Giggs!

Barclay's Premier League Table Top Ten (C-Scum and Arsenal play each other tomorrow)

Team                    Games Played       Points
C-Scum                        13                   33
Man United                   14                   31
Tottenham                     14                   26
Arsenal                         12                   25
Aston Villa                    14                   23
Man Shotty                   13                   22
Liverpool                      13                   20
Sunderland                   14                   20 (+2)
Stoke City                    14                   20 (-1)
Fulham                         14                   19

Prem League News:
From the horse's mouth...
Robin van Persie, who injured himself a few weeks ago during international play, won't be available to Arsenal for at least 5 months.  The Gunners' star striker will undergo surgery to repair torn ligaments in his ankle.  After seeing the same specialist who cared for Cristiano Ronaldo, it was determined that he would need surgery.  This shocker comes after van Persie visited a "therapist" who's treatment for his ankle was to massage horse placenta into the ankle....yes, horse placenta ("a horse is a horse, of course of course...")  This would be a good place for a collective "ewwwwwwwwwwww."  Of course of course (haha) it didn't work and the "therapist" is now under investigation by the authorities.  Apparently she doesn't have a license to be a horse doctor!! Neeeeiiiiigggghhhhhh!

Photo of the week:
My Girondins are flying high in the Champions League (qualified for the knockouts after 4 matches) and one point out of the Ligue 1 lead (to AJ Auxerre...who?).  After Chamakh scored against Bayern Munich, the team mobbed him.  Everyone should love their job this much!