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United Visit Tough Venue And Get Going
28th Apr
It is funny after they ran Milan ragged that either side United have looked almost leaden footed in recent domestic games. Here that seemed to be the case again
Maybe the players get up for them or maybe they save a bit for them. Certainly Rafa, maybe by necessity, knows that winning the Champions' League means more after all if your team makes no progress but is champion of Europe who can complain - WE can but you know what WE mean. Anyway 2 nil down and Everton dropping deep and making mistakes with Rooney a constant threat on the last defender they magnificently exploited it and found their legs. (whereas Chelsea could find little against a cobbled together Bolton side with the great KD!)
Everton opened this game with Vaughan risking a potential law suit as he used the patented Reading tactic that so successfully injured Cudicini earlier in the season. Jumping into someone who has just headed/punched the ball and is relaxing and thus easy to injure. It is always done deliberately as once again Wylie showed you don't get to be a top ref with Sky whinging by making anything like a decision - see what Poll has become. Better to wait for several bad fouls and give it for consistent foul play that way even if he is wrong no one can really mind. My problem is this in a country of self righteous football fans and pundits jumping into someone to injure is a) deliberate in the accidentally on purpose way b) can only result in injuries, nothing positive c) against the rules which is cheating. Far more dangerous cheating than diving and far far more frequent where the Berkshire based boys and their ilk are concerned.
2nd half Everton gradully sat deeper without any real plan to score and began pumping long balls. Although this did allow them to extend the lead but despite Rooney failing with 3 one on ones they got back thanks to some feebleness in the box by Everton. (Interestingly all the goals at Chelsea have come from box headers and pin ball). Whilst teams know the price of over attacking United dropping deeper and deeper and pumping it up is not on either. Indeed at 2-0 United did not risk Ronaldo but once the keeper let United back in guess who was on and in the end his aerial presence brought the 2nd.
Rooney having missed better chances converted another piece of Everton charity. Everton dominated Chelsea and lost to 3 long strikes here they really only have themselves to blame. 2 big goals for someone who may be earning his self assigned sobriquet the "Big Man".
A remarkable effort from a team who over the piece have been better than Chelsea. Both teams have shown a game in game out resolve to win that Liverpool lack.
28th Apr
The news filtering through from Goodison will have been having the opposite effect on Bolton to Chelsea as their point would take them further clear of Everton and the pack who have to play.
I watching most of the Man United game but here it was the title chasers who were sloppy. Indeed the loss of Carvalho could affect them in all their tournaments. For my partner the, Man United fan, he will be very happy to see Kevin Davies dent Chelsea. Quite why he is not on the England bench given the dearth of physical English strikers is beyond me. He plays for as good a team as Defoe as a starter and is clearly a player Israel, for instance, would have found harder to defend than Rooney and Johnson. Indeed Rooney would have surely operated better off a genuine "Big Man" than off similar players like Owen, Johnson and Defoe. Indeed KD can play wide and leave Rooney nearer goal than Owen and the others who play nearer the front or are utterly ineffective in a crowded space.
Oh and if McClown is looking for an attacking left back against weaker teams Bridge got his 4th assist. That is as many as Ashley and Gerrard as I type......
Surely game over for Chelsea with Arsenal and Everton to come even if they beat United. At least Arsenal and United cannot obviously exploit Essien at centre half. However Liverpool can....
18th April 2007
Jose Mourinho is gradually finding the small squad he selects from is not as small as he would make out. That a 21 million pound player scored his 1st 2 premiership goals in his 2nd season as a discovery says a lot about Jose motivating fringe players and the bizarre world of Chelsea.
As it was Phillips covered up some harem scarem defensive work. John Terry just does not look as secure but the West Ham goal was notable as the normally reliable Cech probably could have done better. As it was West Ham just crumbled and Chelsea strolled. Lampard still looks below par but did hit a great ball for the 3rd goal. Ballack and Sheva were rested and not missed. They will need the real Frank to win many more trophies.
At least the Drog is not letting the pressure interfere with his caberet routines. More than once he was left writhing by a challenge that would not have moved someone half his size. He is my favourite player at present but maybe others do not find it so funny. Oh and Wayne Bridge crossed for his 3rd assist one more than C'Ash in significantly less appearences.
Talking of players with 1 less assist than Bridge Steven Gerrard added a couple of goals off those hardly hardy end of season visitors Boro - padding his total up to 7 to go with his 2 assists [Lampard Lite]. Indeed with both teams were probably looking to not have a hard game. Boro are officially mediocre already so had little to play for. Liverpool as they have shown have either deliberately targetted the Champion's League and find themselves fit and fresh as Chelsea and Man U slug it out.
Blackburn with their style of play may actually wonder if maybe they had started better if they could be challenging Bolton and co for Europe. Watford will go down.
17th April 2007
Lets start with the good stuff 2 beautiful goals from United. Who certainly against opponents at the moment are not 100% organised and committed are just destroyers and could have won as many as they liked. I cannot wait to see if they can treat us fans, Chelsea and Milan to the champagne stuff.
Sheffield United came they saw and settled not to get thumped. Sure there could have been a penalty and a late scare but what suited both sides was not to waste too much energy. Better to get 3 points somewhere than waste energy and lose at Old Trafford. For me the most controversial moment of the night was Styles failure to send off Kazim Richards for a shocking leg breaker, hopefully not, on Evra. Indeed I cannot issue my normal complaint about equating a serious yellow with trivial ones as he did not even book him. If someone can tell me how a tackle like that has any place on the football field and is an attempt for the ball, not vicious cheating, I'll be surprised.
Given the nature of the challenge of course Sky concentrated on a penalty decision that was not given. With Chris Coleman showing he is as good/bad at whining like a dog in or out of a track suit. Lets hope he is not on TV much more but I won't bet on it.
Arsenal: goals from midfield: opponents nothing to play for: who cares?
15th April 2007
The zinc lining for Pardew is that Wigan only got a point off Spurs. Spurs showed going forward their continued rennaisance away from home since Keane came back and replaced the fair weather Rooney even lighter Defoe. However their defense is porous for all the England players they have in defense and midfield (King, Dawson, Robinson, Jenas, Lennon) - McClown should look elsewhere. They went behind 3 times to a Heskey led attack, nough said.
As it is one result could send Charlton out of the bottom 3 but like with West Ham having no dignity and appointing Pardew after his cuntery towards Wenger and their inflicting Dowie on the fans a team WE are happy to lose. It is game on with Sheffield United no longer on a losing run.
With Bolton losing Everton grabbed their chance. They also, like Bolton, with Chelsea coming up can celebrate Spurs loss of 2 points. They can also thank United and Chelsea (and Arsenal Carling) for opening up 3 places for UEFA cup. Reading and Portsmouth will need to do well with Spurs game in hand and 5/6 points off Everton and Bolton with only 5 games left but heres hoping. They deserve it more than Spurs and their under performers who have waited for tired teams to pad their points with their large squad.
The Fickle Finger Of Relegation Points To The Hammers
14th April 2007
This time of year teams can go on runs against teams under pressure or with nothing to play for. Hence the Blades went through 3 defeats and West Ham with nothing to lose had won 3 straight. The Blades finally facing a team with as much to lose as themselves blew West Ham apart. Indeed had Bennett correctly pulled a second yellow for Anton Ferdinand it could have been even easier (albeit maybe 10 men without that lump of toss might he better). Bennett a classic serial yellow carder who never pulls the trigger on a red - don't apply for a job in Spain son.
I'll cover the joy that West Ham's relegation will give me at the end of the season or when it is inevitable. Probably the saddest part of it will be the vultures will actually mean that cunts like Bowyer, Ferdinand and Reo Coker will stay in the premiership as some mug manager thinks he can make something of an under achieving big name rather than give a kid a chance. Needless to say all those Hammers fans who posted on blogs and bill boards how great their dual signings were will now be denying what they did.
It is a result that stuffs the pressure on Wigan, Charlton and Fulham. Reading's beating of Fulham kept them on the fringes of the UEFA battle and if Chelsea beat Blackburn then 3 places will be up for grabs. Bolton and Everton both have Chelsea to face so the Wigan Spurs game today is big for Spurs. At the bottom 2 good results could be enough for anyone even Charlton. All bets are off still except for Watford. West Ham probably need 3 wins and that is what they had just done but their run in stinks albeit they seem better with their weakness mentally in games they are expected to lose.
From 1 up Bolton will be disappointed as any positive result combined with a Chelsea win today might have been enough for Europe. Arsenal will cheer a gritty if unconvincing performance. At least they got a goal from Rosicky as this year their wide players have not exactly been Pires and Ljungberg (of old). Indeed forwards not called Henry have yet to prove they can consistently do it. 11 months without a league goal is not great by Fabregas for all his other abilities. He does not have to be Lampard but shirt tails of Gerrard or the Ginger Prince maybe - Oliver Holt was saying on Sunday that Gerrard can be considered for player of the year off 5 goals and 2 assists. I'd say 5 goals and 10 normal last pass assists is not out of the question in 35 games for Fabregas.
Portsmouth's record looks great beat Man U, lose 4 to Watford and then beat Newcastle who appear to have given up the chase for mediocrity. Portsmouth are another within 2 wins of Bolton and Everton, who still have Chelsea to come. Mattie Taylor is he a good player or does he just get good goals? Still you would not half mind seeing him instead of McClaren favourite Downing as the left peg in the left slot - till Joe Cole gets fit at least..... Certainly a better selection than serial nothingmeisters like Jenas and Downing.
After a promising start Bruce Millington (and us in copy cat fashion!) in the Racing Post said Villa would do well to finish mid table and O'Neill's team have lately pushed themselves from the fringes of relegation to mediocrity. Boro having avoided relegation and gone out of the cups are generally speaking handing out 3 points to anyone who shows they want them. So bad were Boro the 1st and 3rd Villa goals looked like extra on top or consolation goals not goals with the game on the line.
Liverpool got the kind of result they specialise in getting 1 when 3 points was available but as their strategy appears to be to save themselves every year for the end of the year and champion's league. They look booked for 3rd and hve the biggest freshest squad left in Europe. Cynical but maybe the trick Houllier missed, that and getting rid of Mickey Owen when people would have paid silly money for him. City like Newcastle and Boro start winning when they need to (helped by playing the other 2) and are now safe enough to resume losing.
Probably the biggest premiership news came in the FA cup at Watford where ala Chelsea in January United got reduced to 1 centre half. Although as Mourinho showed when Boulahrouz got fit he preferred Essien to Arnesan's lousy scouting job.... For United it is galling as it has taken injuries to O'Shea, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Neville and Vidic in an area of strength to bring them low. Indeed Wes Brown is a week to week case at best! Heinze is at least tall unlike Essien.
6th and 7th April 2007
Who is the most valuable player in the division? Well one can say that it is probably Petr Cech if he has a full season Chelsea just barely concede a goal when he plays. I think this is partly luck in that he missed the period when the manager went defeatist and the team played poor football - amazingly for a Mourinho team disorganised all over the place. Plus Hilario was forced to play as Cudicini was also downed the Reading tactic of hitting people in the air or on the ground - Mido did it again on John Terry and this is even an offence in Rugby Union. However it has to be said Cech makes few errors and spreads confidence. Good to see Wright-Phillips and Cole back for different reasons.
At the end of the day though Chelsea garnered another win without inspiring anyone with their football. The goal coming from Carvalho from a far ways out. I know a Man United fan who was muttering dark thoughts about Robinson but once again the simple explanation is the best that Robinson is often at fault. TWSI have consistently stated that this dysfunctional Chelsea team cannot, surely, win the title... We are hedging our bets now and getting a prayer mat out to Jose Mourinho... Weaving a silk purse from a sows bladder? Can they keep grafting wins?
Talking of keepers not spreading confidence how about van der Sar's week. The cheat meister's flaps have left United in a flap. They are one behind in Europe and now basically if they lose at Chelsea their goal difference ahead. Credit to Harry Redknapp whatever else you do not die of boredom watching his teams play football. Even at 1-0 they just kept playing. Will vdS crack under more pressure that is coming? As a football fan I'd like to see United win it because as their goal difference shows they have played the best football.
Once again in a game set up for him Rooney even faced with a single line failed to look like unlocking them. Indeed once again, I only bore with this as others seem not to see it, his passing was poor. When played as a striker in this game he forced 2 amazing tackle from Primus - Rooney is striker who can drop off, not a dropped off striker. His behaviour as usual warrented a sending off for 2 acts of cuntishness trying to get Primus sent off for tackling him. Mattie Taylor must be surely the kind of useful player that would replace Jenas or Phil Neville in an England squad - left foot as well.
A dark cloud of thought led Man U manager to blame the referee. I guess as with lesser managers this is a technique not to blame the players. I guess where to start with blaming your own players. The Man United "Blame Assigner" will be spending all week handing out supoenas. Fletcher for that horrible hospital pass: Richardson for losing that awful pass from Fletcher: Assistant who flagged Roon off side: Ferdinand and/or vdS for the 2nd: vdS flapping for the first: Ferdinand beaten by a midfielder for the 1st.... Referee well if he was a homer or worse he would surely have at least booked Childman for his ludicrous behaviour.
Neil Warnock could not feel more of an outsider but one wonders if He could losing to Newcastle after their recent generosity would not help. The irony being Newcastle probably felt they needed the points and stepped up. One wonders if they can score enough goals to get 5 or 6 more points and give themselves a shot. Certainly they need a win soon as unlike the Hammers and the Athletic one wonders if they can string great results together and come from behind - as they now have to.
Indeed the lack of certainties at the bottom now where after Chelsea and Man U, 1 game excepted, the form teams could be Charlton and West Ham. Charlton moved out of the botton 3. Curbs, as apparently he likes to be called will probably be delighted to see West Ham have stopped conceding. OK OK they could easily have lost and one wonders if they are in form or just having things go there way. At least Robert Green played well and the more English cats doing well the better. West Ham arte now 2 points off safety and 4 points off Wigan, game on.
Arsenal have 2 more points than Bolton and yet they are 23 goals of goal difference better. Indeed Everton also are 15 goals better than par (Spurs -1 Bolton 0). Yet the table shows the 4 together. This is I think in some ways a sign that goal scoring Bayesian as this is a repeating pattern from last year for Arsenal and Everton have finished in the top 5 with an almost level goal difference. It also shows it is the 1-0 losses and wins that make the biggest difference - anyone wants to do a scientific study and explain it all please do.
Wigan like Sheffield United last week lost to Bolton. They got one in front and still conceded 3. Like the Blades one wonders if they can win enough games to stay clear. Indeed will 40 points be needed this year. Then again 5 weeks ago what would we have said of West Ham and Charlton - seriously Zamora goal scoring saviour!
For Bolton 2 assists and some signs of life from Diouf all of a sudden. They still have to play Chelsea so Spurs can hope their loss today was not a loss (Arsenal also play Chelsea). Monday's Bolton Everton nearly as big a game as Arsenal Spurs would be!
Blackburn's season understandably is fizzling out and Villa no doubt will see there win as a pre-cursor to next year. It will be interesting for those verbal louts who shouted down Allardyce as England manager what O'Neill can do in his 2nd season with far more money.
Boro duly wrapped up Watford and the game seemed to be played at the pace of a training game on highlights. Southgate will be another manager disappointed to have a McClaren style season. I think Boro have the problem that they are wedded to Boateng's tackling and the intermittant efforts of the Yak and Viduka up front. On the plus side they have lots of young players coming through and one hopes they use those to build a dynamic game based on their legs rather than buy large static players on the decline or looking to rest half a season. Maybe Viduka will turn next year into make or break season by leaving - is Bernie Mandic still his agent?
Arteta threw Everton back into the heart of the title race with a hand in all 4 goals as Everton predictably blasted Fulham off the park. No doubt at some point Fulham will grab a few more points to put matters to rest.
Liverpool showed that once they were out of the title race and the pressure was off going away from home holds no terrors - or at least against Reading who can be very satisfied! Not that Liverpool dominated the game and indeed Reading may feel unlucky not to win. Nice to see a decent cross from Pennant decide it, more please son.
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