Liridon tak ada Andik pulak muncul {Metro}

KETUA Pegawai Eksekutif Persatuan Bolasepak Kedah (KFA), Yusdi Madeonus Mohamad Yunus (enam dari kiri) menyerahkan jersi kepada Andik sebelum sesi latihan di Stadium Sultan Abdul Halim, Jalan Suka Menanti

KETIADAAN perancang tengah Kedah, Liridon Krasniqi yang digantung permainan akibat menerima kad merah melegakan PKNP FC, namun kelibat Andik Vermansyah kini menjadi ancaman baharu apabila kedua-dua pasukan bertarung di Stadium Negeri Batu Kawan, petang esok.

Ketua pasukan PKNP, Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi, berkata Andik mampu menjadi pemusnah jika rakan sepasukannya tidak memberi fokus serta membiarkan pemain Indonesia itu bergerak bebas sewenang-wenangnya.

“Sudah tentu ketiadaan Liridon agak melegakan kerana dia adalah kunci utama Kedah namun sekarang Andik pula datang untuk memberi acaman.

“Kehadirannya akan memberi impak besar kepada Kedah. Kita sedia maklum dengan kemampuan pemain itu ketika dia bersama Selangor.

“Andik tidak boleh diberi ruang bergerak bebas kerana dia mampu menjadi pemusnah. Kami perlu merantai dia serta tidak boleh leka walaupun sesaat,” katanya.

Andik yang sah menyertai Helang Merah semalam dijangka diturunkan esok bagi memperkasakan jentera serangan yang kelihatan bergelut untuk memecah benteng lawan apatah lagi ketiadaan Liridon yang digantung secara automatik selepas dilayangkan kad merah.

Selepas dua perlawanan, Kedah belum mengutip sebarang mata serta menghuni tangga kedua terbawah apabila tewas 1-2 kepada Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) dan 1-3 kepada Perak.

Shahrel yang tidak akan beraksi esok kerana masih dalam proses pemulihan akibat kecederaan pangkal paha bagaimanapun yakin PKNP mampu memberi saingan kepada Kedah.

Pemain itu berkata, walaupun tewas 0-3 kepada JDT, Selasa lalu, dia menganggap jumlah jaringan dihasilkan menunjukkan PKNP bukan pasukan yang boleh dijadikan budak belasahan.

Pasukan bimbingan Abu Bakar Fadzim itu kini mengumpul tiga mata hasil kemenangan 1-0 ke atas Negeri Sembilan pada perlawanan pertama.

“Kalau kami berupaya menyekat JDT daripada berpesta gol di Larkin, saya yakin PKNP mampu mengejutkan Kedah di gelanggang sendiri,” kata Shahrel.

Player ratings : WATFORD vs Chelsea

Player ratings (1-10, 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Thibaut Courtois, 5 -- Although he wasn't helped by Deulofeu's exaggerated dive, his decision to rush out and concede the penalty was very poor. Had little chance with any of the other goals.

Courtois has insisted the Chelsea squad still believe Conte is the man for the job

DF Cesar Azpilicueta, 6 -- Did reasonably well against the lively Richarlison, though was not imposing enough in other areas.

DF David Luiz, 6 -- Looked rusty after a spell away from the team, but at least was committed in everything he did. Got booked unnecessarily, which then prevented him from making important challenges thereafter.

DF Gary Cahill, 5 -- Started with one excellent block but was caught out of position and burnt for pace by Deulofeu for the penalty incident. Struggles continued as the game wore on.

MF Victor Moses, 5 -- Failed to put a single decent cross into the box despite numerous opportunities.

MF N'Golo Kante, 6 -- Even a tour de force like Kante cannot paper over so many cracks. Won the ball back effectively enough but also gave it away too often.

MF Tiemoue Bakayoko, 2 -- Could not do right for doing wrong, inadvertently creating two clear goal-scoring chances for Watford. Nevertheless, should never have been sent off, with neither yellow card being warranted.

Tiemoue Bakayoko had a difficult night against Watford on Monday and was sent off

MF Davide Zappacosta, 7 -- One of the few to be able to hold their head high with a solid display. Was one of Chelsea's few effective attacking outlets, and his work deserved better.

FW Pedro, 4 -- Completely ineffective as he has been for weeks, and it can only have been injury concerns that saw Willian withdrawn ahead of him following the red card.

FW Willian, 5 -- Was as culpable as anyone in the opening half-hour, blazing a good chance over the bar, but was still unlucky to be substituted.

FW Eden Hazard, 6 -- Totally isolated for an hour and invisible as a result. Liberated after Giroud's introduction and scored a beautiful goal.

Substitutes

DF Cesc Fabregas, 5 -- Brought on after half an hour to control the game and provide some creativity, he had very little impact in either realm.

FW Olivier Giroud, 5 -- His presence made a difference even if nothing he actually did resulted in anything.

Bakayoko's carelessness, sending off set Chelsea up for defeat at Watford

Chelsea's miserable start to 2018 continued with a limp 4-1 Premier League defeat at Watford on Monday night.

The visitors never got going, with the home side displaying far more energy and desire from the first whistle. Richarlison was causing problems for the Blues, but it was one of their own, Tiemoue Bakayoko, who was their biggest threat. The Frenchman couldn't put a foot right, and his sending off after 30 minutes, although exceptionally harsh, removed him from further humiliation. Referee Mike Dean then awarded Watford a spot kick after some Broadway-style theatrics from Gerard Deulofeu, and Troy Deeney gave his side a deserved lead.

The second half was no better until Antonio Conte finally decided to change his approach and introduce Olivier Giroud. With Eden Hazard enjoying more space and Watford retreating, the Belgian scored a wonderful equaliser with eight minutes remaining. Any relief was short-lived as Daryl Janmaat restored their lead before Deulofeu wrapped it up. There was still time for Chelsea to be further embarrassed when Roberto Pereyra fired in a fourth in injury time.

Positives

Hazard's goal. Otherwise, none.

Negatives

Every player was guilty of giving the ball away cheaply from the start of the game and created unnecessary pressure for themselves. Failed to match Watford's commitment until the closing stages, by which time it was too late. There were few discernible patterns of play and hardly any moments of invention. And there was none of the old Chelsea rage and anger at a game getting away from them. This team is far too nice.

Manager rating out of 10

3 -- With the team crying out for a focal point, it was bizarre to see Hazard lead the line again with Giroud fit enough to be on the bench. Not introducing the Frenchman once reduced to 10 men was equally baffling. Did eventually switch to a back four and went more direct, which resulted in the equaliser, but it was too little, too late. Conte will always be a legend for winning the title, but there now seem to be too many excuses and not enough self-motivation. His body language is a world away from where it was last season.

Oliver Giroud vs Watford (Chelsea Debut) - EPL 05/02/2018

Rihannas a Gooner

After watching our win, the singer met our first-team squad - and you can go behind the scenes with her by clicking 'Play' on the video above.
Read more at https://www.arsenal.com/news/rihannas-gooner-behind-scenes-emirates#HBpYAzcj7bDh2pay.99

Rihanna was in the stands at the Emirates to watch the match on Saturday night

Pop singer Rihanna watched on from the stands on Saturday as Arsenal ran riot against Everton at the Emirates.

It's well known the Barbadian singer loves football after she took to social media to offer her insights during the last World Cup in Brazil.

But who knew the 29-year-old was a secret Gooner? Arsenal may have lost Alexis Sanchez but now they have got Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang and Rihanna.

After the match she posed for a picture with Mesut Ozil, who shared the snap of the pair on his Twitter account. He wrote: 'Still unbeaten with Riri'.

She attended that World Cup final in Brazil when Ozil lifted the trophy with Germany after they beat Argentina in extra-time. 

After watching our win, the singer met our 1st team squad

The 29-year-old pop singer went down on to the pitch and spoke with Shkodran Mustafi

She also introduced herself to Laurent Koscielny outside of the Arsenal changing room

Keputusan Liga Super : JDT Juara Piala Sumbangsih

Alexis who? Aubameyang marks Arsenal debut with fine chip while Ramsey nets a hat-trick as Gunners put FIVE past Everton

• Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal the lead in the sixth minute after tapping home from a Henrikh Mkhitaryan cross
• Laurent Koscielny then doubled the hosts' lead just eight minutes later with a header from close range
• In just the 19th minute, Wales star Ramsey netted his second of the game as Arsenal ran riot at the Emirates 
• Arsenal's record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted a debut goal after a fine Mkhitaryan pass
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged Everton's first of the evening on 64 minutes just moments after coming on 
• Just moments later, Ramsey celebrated a hat-trick after sweeping home from another Mkhitaryan cross

On evenings like this, Arsenal are wonderful to behold. And if the manager were not 67, you might be tempted to suggest a new era was dawning, that a team to match past heroics was emerging.

That the hat-trick from Aaron Ramsey was merely a part of the occasion rather than the centre-piece told you of the exceptional quality elsewhere. The man of the match was really Henrikh Mkhitaryan, outstanding in providing the assists and bewitching Everton.

Then there was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring on his debut – an offside goal, admittedly, but it stood – with the most-impudent finish. And there was Mesut Ozil, revived and refreshed by his new team-mates, impishly evading Everton and generally dictating affairs.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring his first Arsenal goal as Arsenal ran out emphatic 5-1 winners against Everton

The 27-year-old Arsenal midfielder marks his third goal with a hat-trick celebration during the second-half at the Emirates

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 4/5

Yes, he was offside for his goal. But the poise with which he finished it suggested an assurance not seen in a centre forward here since Robin van Persie. And yes, he was over shadowed by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, on his home debut. But he showed enough to suggest there is much more to come.

Eliaquim Mangala 1/5

It couldn’t have gone much worse; an own goal and part of a back three which, unsurprisingly given his late move, looked utterly bewildered and unsure of each other. Three down in 19 minutes is pretty much as bad as it gets. Yet the whole team were awful on Saturday, which may be some small comfort.

Ramsey celebrates his second goal while his former team-mate Theo Walcott and Michael Keane show their disappointment

Walcott received a standing ovation on his return to the Emirates after signing for Everton in the January transfer window