Lancashire is arguably the quintessential homeland of football. The region west of the Pennines has the most Premier League clubs of any in the country and a rich history in the beautiful game, after all the Football Museum is in Preston. The Deepdale faithful currently find themselves rock bottom of the Championship and after exactly one year at the helm Darren Ferguson was sacked earlier this week. It is not always like father like son as Sir Alex’s offspring has never really cut it as a manager in the second tier. This is not to belittle his achievements further down the Football League, Ferguson junior having guided previous employers Peterborough United to back to back promotions from League Two to the Championship.
It has been in both jobs the level at which he has come unstuck. Last November Barry Fry and the Posh board gave him the sack with the club in the same position North End find themselves inhabiting thirteen months on. What has done for Ferguson is loyalty to players that may have got the job done in lower leagues but have never been able to replicate that form in the second tier. Admittedly there has been an increase in austerity with the finances at Deepdale over the last few years and when you look at the current side it couldn’t be more different from the so-nearly promoted squad of Billy Davies’s that lost twice in the play-offs.
Why did Ferguson bring in two of his players from Peterborough who hadn’t made the step up the previous season? Welsh international Craig Morgan has been awful in defence (Gary Speed take note) and I’m still not sure what dimension Paul Coutts adds to the XI, the Scotsman having been equally useless out wide and in the middle of the park.
The story is not quite one of abject failure though. Stoke pair Michael Tonge and Danny Pugh who signed on loan are both decent players at Championship level with promotions to the Premier League on their CV so they know how to win matches. There is one triumph of Ferguson’s that must be highlighted from his tenure at Preston though. In an otherwise dismal calendar year one of his signings, Irish winger Keith Treacy, has shined. The former Blackburn man has always looked dangerous and his form was rewarded with an international debut in the Republic of Ireland’s first match at the newly revamped Aviva Stadium at the end of August.
Sadly the rest of the team, with the exception of North End’s long serving goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, have been a disappointment. The strike force lacks potency when the opposition defence marks Jon Parkin out of the game and at the back they’ve been shambolic, possessing the joint worst back four in the division. To have any chance of survival the board must appoint a successor quickly so that some business can be done in the January transfer window and whoever that might be they must motivate the players for the relegation scrap that Deepdale finds itself in.
Burnley were replaced by another northwest outfit in Blackpool in England’s top flight over the summer. This rags to riches success story is one that captivated fans of the underdog everywhere, but never before and probably never again will a club enter the Premier League with only three stands on their ground. When Owen Coyle was signed by Bolton last winter he was an impossible act to follow, evidenced by the current high flying position Wanderers currently sit in and by the fact that his Turf Moor successor Brian Laws was finally sacked this week. In the wake of the man who got the clarets promoted to the big time’s departure the club showed the least ambition by appointing someone with zero Premier League experience to his name and had little to no success even in the division below.
When the Burnley bubble burst his appointment was an admission of defeat and a display on the part of the chairman of a lack of courage again proven by Laws’s eventual dismissal. So many excuses have been made for a very likeable football figure. He had a tight budget to work with at Sheffield Wednesday, but some of the blame for their relegation to League One last season must be put at his door along with taking the clarets down. What you can say for Laws is that he did a fantastic job at Scunthorpe United, taking them from a mid-table League Two club to establishing them as one that yo-yos between League One and the Championship.
He made no signings to improve the defence. Danny Fox who joined from Celtic last January is much like a Scottish, left-sided version of Glen Johnson, fantastic at attacking from full back, but ineffective at defensive duties. Leon Cort who joined from Stoke at the same time has been shipped out on loan ironically enough to Preston after failing to make his mark with a number of not too clever displays from Britain’s brainiest footballer. The midfield has been bolstered by the arrivals of Dean Marney from Hull, Ross Wallace from North End and the versatile Jack Cork on loan from Chelsea during the summer.
These were joined by target man Chris Iwelumo who flopped in the Premier League with Wolves, but has experience at Burnley’s current level and is their leading scorer so far. Despite adding to the ranks with players who have the knowledge of how to be a success in the Championship and highly rated youngsters, the clarets under Laws became inconsistent and that is not an ingredient which will make for a return to the top flight at the first time of asking, which is surely the club’s target.
In order to get their promotion push back on track the Turf Moor board need to appoint someone who will use the current squad’s strengths to maximum effect. Service needs to be created for Iwelumo, whose goals have dried up after a scintillating purple patch early on in the season because he is not the most mobile striker. A defensive signing in the January sales could be a welcome addition that may turn some of those draws into wins.
A Happy New Year and a prosperous 2011 to all JC Football readers!
Friday, 31 December 2010
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Rafa Fails to Lift the Shadow of the Special One
Two days to go until Christmas and Rafael Benitez is out of a job. Little more than six months down the line from the Special One winning an historic treble, not even adding the World Club Championship to Inter Milan’s trophy cabinet could save the Spaniard from the sack. The spectre of Jose Mourinho still looms large over the San Siro, who traded the Nerazzurri for Real Madrid in the summer, enticed by the prospect of spearheading a new generation of Galacticos. Whoever stepped into the Portuguese’s shoes could not better the unprecedented feat the Special One achieved in Italian football last season.
This is by no means the first time that a football club has struggled in the wake of one of the most charismatic enigmas in the game’s departure. In fact you can make a persuasive case that Mourinho is an act that simply cannot be followed. His record as a manager speaks for itself. The statistics show just under a 55% win rate during his brief spell in charge of Benfica and the subsequent year at the helm of U. D. Leiria respectively, guiding the latter to their highest league finish in the club’s history. At both Porto and Chelsea the Special One won more than 70% of matches and at the San Siro a shade less than 63%. At the Bernabeu the Portuguese has lost just once in twenty five games, the heavy defeat by Barcelona at the Nou Camp which has handed Madrid’s bitter rivals the advantage in the race for the La Liga crown.
With numbers like this and Mourinho’s famous unbeaten home league record which now stretches back two months shy of nine years, you can see how trophies naturally follow. At Porto he won a league, Taca de Portugal and UEFA Cup treble in 2003 and followed it up with the domestic Liga and Champions League double in 2004. At Stamford Bridge the Special One brought back to back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 adding the league cup in the former, and despite missing out on a third consecutive top flight championship in 2007 the club won the English domestic cup double under his guidance. Before last season’s Italian league, cup and European treble, he also kept the Serie A title at the San Siro in 2009 after predecessor Roberto Mancini steered the Nerazzurri to the previous three crowns.
He was able in his last job to get the best out of an ageing squad and certainly out of Argentine powerhouse Diego Milito, who netted thirty goals in the treble winning campaign. This season it seems his strike partner and Africa’s player of the year for 2010 Samuel Eto’o will be the one to reach that margin. The Cameroonian record goalscorer has already bagged nineteen in all competitions, while Milito has a mere four. There’s no doubt that contributing sixteen last season was a substantial factor in Inter’s success, but now subsequently where the African has thrived under Benitez, the stocky Argentine has struggled.
The Spaniard did next to nothing business-wise in the summer after taking over. He sold on loan Nicolas Burdisso to Roma and thus lost the only experienced centre back on the club’s books with any pace. Shipping Victor Obinna out to the Premier League was a shrewd move though; getting him off the wage bill with West Ham picking up the tab for a player who has never come remotely close to fulfilling his potential should be commended if nothing else. Aside from this Benitez merely presided over rubbing stamping the permanent arrivals of some youngsters that had been brought to the San Siro under the co-ownership rules of Serie A during last season. Kenyan central midfielder McDonald Mariga and French winger Jonathan Biabiany might well be two to watch out for in the future, but the pair are not exactly mainstays in Inter’s line up and have failed to seize opportunities when they have been presented.
A. C. Milan have a thirteen point lead over their San Siro cohabitants going into the winter break. The Nerazzurri have won only three times in eleven Serie A matches since the 4-0 romp against lowly Bari in late September and it was that poor run of form that has cost Benitez his job. In the two months between the above fixture and the 5-2 win against Parma, Inter did not win at home, succumbing to three draws and a defeat at the hands of their live-in neighbours in the Milan derby. His failure to emulate his fellow Iberian’s success in Italy will further hit the Spaniard’s stock, which has arguably been in a steady decline since Liverpool lost in the 2007 Champions League Final. Reds fans will be quick no doubt to point out he guided them to the runners up spot in the Premier League in 2009, but they lost out to hated rivals Manchester United, succumbing to too many draws.
Who can say what Benitez will do next; with fifteen years in club management he could well try his hand at taking charge of a national side. Alternatively he might do what many foreign coaches do after being sacked in a top European job and return home. Perhaps he will play the waiting game and make a sensational return to the Premier League as he still has a house in the northwest. As far as Inter goes, former A. C. Milan coach Leonardo is the early favourite to succeed the Spaniard. Current Zenit St. Petersburg and former Roma manger Luciano Spalletti, ex-Nerazzurri player Walter Zegna and Marcelo Biesla who resigned from the Chile national team last month are all within odds of 10/1 with SkyBet. Some sections of England fans will welcome Fabio Capello’s name being linked with the post. Inter president Massimo Moratti will probably go for someone with Serie A experience to try and get the club’s season back on track.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all JC Football readers
This is by no means the first time that a football club has struggled in the wake of one of the most charismatic enigmas in the game’s departure. In fact you can make a persuasive case that Mourinho is an act that simply cannot be followed. His record as a manager speaks for itself. The statistics show just under a 55% win rate during his brief spell in charge of Benfica and the subsequent year at the helm of U. D. Leiria respectively, guiding the latter to their highest league finish in the club’s history. At both Porto and Chelsea the Special One won more than 70% of matches and at the San Siro a shade less than 63%. At the Bernabeu the Portuguese has lost just once in twenty five games, the heavy defeat by Barcelona at the Nou Camp which has handed Madrid’s bitter rivals the advantage in the race for the La Liga crown.
With numbers like this and Mourinho’s famous unbeaten home league record which now stretches back two months shy of nine years, you can see how trophies naturally follow. At Porto he won a league, Taca de Portugal and UEFA Cup treble in 2003 and followed it up with the domestic Liga and Champions League double in 2004. At Stamford Bridge the Special One brought back to back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 adding the league cup in the former, and despite missing out on a third consecutive top flight championship in 2007 the club won the English domestic cup double under his guidance. Before last season’s Italian league, cup and European treble, he also kept the Serie A title at the San Siro in 2009 after predecessor Roberto Mancini steered the Nerazzurri to the previous three crowns.
He was able in his last job to get the best out of an ageing squad and certainly out of Argentine powerhouse Diego Milito, who netted thirty goals in the treble winning campaign. This season it seems his strike partner and Africa’s player of the year for 2010 Samuel Eto’o will be the one to reach that margin. The Cameroonian record goalscorer has already bagged nineteen in all competitions, while Milito has a mere four. There’s no doubt that contributing sixteen last season was a substantial factor in Inter’s success, but now subsequently where the African has thrived under Benitez, the stocky Argentine has struggled.
The Spaniard did next to nothing business-wise in the summer after taking over. He sold on loan Nicolas Burdisso to Roma and thus lost the only experienced centre back on the club’s books with any pace. Shipping Victor Obinna out to the Premier League was a shrewd move though; getting him off the wage bill with West Ham picking up the tab for a player who has never come remotely close to fulfilling his potential should be commended if nothing else. Aside from this Benitez merely presided over rubbing stamping the permanent arrivals of some youngsters that had been brought to the San Siro under the co-ownership rules of Serie A during last season. Kenyan central midfielder McDonald Mariga and French winger Jonathan Biabiany might well be two to watch out for in the future, but the pair are not exactly mainstays in Inter’s line up and have failed to seize opportunities when they have been presented.
A. C. Milan have a thirteen point lead over their San Siro cohabitants going into the winter break. The Nerazzurri have won only three times in eleven Serie A matches since the 4-0 romp against lowly Bari in late September and it was that poor run of form that has cost Benitez his job. In the two months between the above fixture and the 5-2 win against Parma, Inter did not win at home, succumbing to three draws and a defeat at the hands of their live-in neighbours in the Milan derby. His failure to emulate his fellow Iberian’s success in Italy will further hit the Spaniard’s stock, which has arguably been in a steady decline since Liverpool lost in the 2007 Champions League Final. Reds fans will be quick no doubt to point out he guided them to the runners up spot in the Premier League in 2009, but they lost out to hated rivals Manchester United, succumbing to too many draws.
Who can say what Benitez will do next; with fifteen years in club management he could well try his hand at taking charge of a national side. Alternatively he might do what many foreign coaches do after being sacked in a top European job and return home. Perhaps he will play the waiting game and make a sensational return to the Premier League as he still has a house in the northwest. As far as Inter goes, former A. C. Milan coach Leonardo is the early favourite to succeed the Spaniard. Current Zenit St. Petersburg and former Roma manger Luciano Spalletti, ex-Nerazzurri player Walter Zegna and Marcelo Biesla who resigned from the Chile national team last month are all within odds of 10/1 with SkyBet. Some sections of England fans will welcome Fabio Capello’s name being linked with the post. Inter president Massimo Moratti will probably go for someone with Serie A experience to try and get the club’s season back on track.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all JC Football readers
Monday, 13 December 2010
Red Devils and Gunners Disappoint Again
Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0
What is it with Arsenal and failing to perform against their fellow Premier League heavyweights? A 75000 plus crowd watching, including guests of honour the Chilean miners, at Old Trafford and yet again two of English football’s giants failed to live up to the hype. It’s always the same old story and to be honest I’m growing tired of telling it. When these sides match one another in formation the middle of the park is more congested than the M8 has been at rush hour in Scotland’s worst snowdrifts for forty years. The Red Devils snatch a goal late in one half that gets put down to a mistake or improvisation (read luck) and Wenger’s men pass incessantly, creating nothing but frustration for the supporters as United repel their build ups and take home the points.
Who doesn’t love Arsenal’s football philosophy? When it works you never get tired of seeing it, but when it doesn’t there’s no plan B, no alternative tactics and when they’re chasing the game in the last five minutes looking for an equaliser there’s still no urgency. If it drives me, a humble commentator, nuts, think what it does to the Gunners faithful! Sometimes you can’t help but think their big names are afraid of putting in performances against top opposition. Arshavin was ineffective again and why Wenger left replacing him with Walcott so late I’ll never know. Nasri has been the outstanding player of the Londoners’ season so far, but where are his contributions in the big matches? Without service from the wide areas and the centre of midfield a maze of tackles and inaccurate passing Chamakh had little more than scraps to feed on.
It’s not entirely recriminations for Wenger though. What a bold move on his part it was to hand highly rated young keeper Szczesny a league debut in the trip to Old Trafford, but he acquitted himself well. There was nothing the Polish stopper could have done about the goal which Park Ji-Sung could never have meant. That responsibility must go to the failure of Arsenal to track his run and the static nature of Koscielny and Squillaci. Szczesny saved superbly from an audacious chip from Rooney and although there is room for improvement with his kicking, he commanded the box well and held onto most shots that the Red Devils fired at him.
Nani has come on so much since he signed for United. He now looks a threat from either flank because the full back doesn’t know whether he’ll go to the byline or cut inside. The latter is more often than not the option he takes, evidenced by his coming in from the right and producing the deflected cross for the game’s only goal. The Portuguese winger’s ability was never in doubt, but the question mark remained about end product. He seems to have largely answered that now.
Apart from missing a penalty, Rooney played well. He seems to be so much more disciplined about his play at club level. There was only a fraction of the dropping deep to get the ball in tonight’s encounter compared with an international game. After Park's late first half strike the Red Devils sat on their lead and showed their usual mediocre ambitions of attempting to increase their lead only on the counter. Hardly the most proactive approach a home team can take, but they absorbed pressure from the Gunners, ensuring all the opposition's possession was in front of the back four with incisiveness seldom seen. In Fletcher, Carrick and Anderson there is a solid central threesome, but no player who really knows how to support the attack with any real purpose.
Nonetheless Ferguson’s men have now gone top of the Premier League with this win and remain unbeaten. This match was a test of Arsenal’s title credentials and again they have been found wanting. It is disappointing they just didn’t produce a better display because there’s precious little that’s constructive for Wenger and Gunners fans to take from it.
What is it with Arsenal and failing to perform against their fellow Premier League heavyweights? A 75000 plus crowd watching, including guests of honour the Chilean miners, at Old Trafford and yet again two of English football’s giants failed to live up to the hype. It’s always the same old story and to be honest I’m growing tired of telling it. When these sides match one another in formation the middle of the park is more congested than the M8 has been at rush hour in Scotland’s worst snowdrifts for forty years. The Red Devils snatch a goal late in one half that gets put down to a mistake or improvisation (read luck) and Wenger’s men pass incessantly, creating nothing but frustration for the supporters as United repel their build ups and take home the points.
Who doesn’t love Arsenal’s football philosophy? When it works you never get tired of seeing it, but when it doesn’t there’s no plan B, no alternative tactics and when they’re chasing the game in the last five minutes looking for an equaliser there’s still no urgency. If it drives me, a humble commentator, nuts, think what it does to the Gunners faithful! Sometimes you can’t help but think their big names are afraid of putting in performances against top opposition. Arshavin was ineffective again and why Wenger left replacing him with Walcott so late I’ll never know. Nasri has been the outstanding player of the Londoners’ season so far, but where are his contributions in the big matches? Without service from the wide areas and the centre of midfield a maze of tackles and inaccurate passing Chamakh had little more than scraps to feed on.
It’s not entirely recriminations for Wenger though. What a bold move on his part it was to hand highly rated young keeper Szczesny a league debut in the trip to Old Trafford, but he acquitted himself well. There was nothing the Polish stopper could have done about the goal which Park Ji-Sung could never have meant. That responsibility must go to the failure of Arsenal to track his run and the static nature of Koscielny and Squillaci. Szczesny saved superbly from an audacious chip from Rooney and although there is room for improvement with his kicking, he commanded the box well and held onto most shots that the Red Devils fired at him.
Nani has come on so much since he signed for United. He now looks a threat from either flank because the full back doesn’t know whether he’ll go to the byline or cut inside. The latter is more often than not the option he takes, evidenced by his coming in from the right and producing the deflected cross for the game’s only goal. The Portuguese winger’s ability was never in doubt, but the question mark remained about end product. He seems to have largely answered that now.
Apart from missing a penalty, Rooney played well. He seems to be so much more disciplined about his play at club level. There was only a fraction of the dropping deep to get the ball in tonight’s encounter compared with an international game. After Park's late first half strike the Red Devils sat on their lead and showed their usual mediocre ambitions of attempting to increase their lead only on the counter. Hardly the most proactive approach a home team can take, but they absorbed pressure from the Gunners, ensuring all the opposition's possession was in front of the back four with incisiveness seldom seen. In Fletcher, Carrick and Anderson there is a solid central threesome, but no player who really knows how to support the attack with any real purpose.
Nonetheless Ferguson’s men have now gone top of the Premier League with this win and remain unbeaten. This match was a test of Arsenal’s title credentials and again they have been found wanting. It is disappointing they just didn’t produce a better display because there’s precious little that’s constructive for Wenger and Gunners fans to take from it.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Big Sam Beaten on Reebok Return
Bolton Wanderers 2 Blackburn Rovers 1
There is heavy irony in that the Trotters’ two goals had something Allardyce-esque about them, with their former manager suffering his first defeat at his old club since leaving in 2007 this afternoon. Successive managers, Lee and Megson, tried and failed to move out of the considerable shadow Big Sam left over the Reebok, departing Bolton after seven and a half years at the helm. His brand of football brought the club into Europe from a sixth placed finish and since then Wanderers have never looked like they could reach those heights again which many consider to be above their station, until now.
Owen Coyle, courted by Celtic in the wake of Gordon Strachan’s departure in the summer of 2009, stuck with his promoted Burnley to lead their top flight venture last season. By the halfway stage he had the shrewdness to see that the rest of the Premier League had finally taken notice of the surprise package that Turf Moor gave visiting teams. With the clarets no longer so defensively strong at home, a trend that has continued up to now with yesterday’s squandering of a two goal advantage to lose to Leeds 3-2, he opted to return to a club from his playing days.
Fans with long memories might recall that Little Sam Sammy Lee tried to play attractive football in the wake of Allardyce’s departure and got sacked with hardly a fair crack of the whip during the 2007-08 season. Here we must draw a crucial distinction. Coyle introduced his similar philosophies during the second half of a campaign and it kept them up, whilst Lee’s Bolton only played their way into the relegation places. Wanderers under Coyle now sit fifth and are guaranteed to remain in the top six no matter what the result of the other two heavyweight clashes in this round of matches.
Turning to today’s Lancashire Derby, from the outset the tactics of the visitors were vintage Big Sam. A 5-4-1 formation designed to frustrate the passing of the home side, with three centre halves aiming to neutralise the aerial presence of Trotters talisman Kevin Davies. You can say what you like about these ploys, but in the end the former worked and the latter did not. Rovers stopped Bolton playing football, but as is so often the case three at the back didn’t work as evidenced by Davies’s assist for Holden’s eighty-eighth minute winner.
Blackburn stopped Wanderers from their passing game, but Allardyce was undone by his own tactic of long ball used against him. Today’s result is a victory for the ability to mix footballing styles up and not rigidly adhere to a set way of approaching the game when it clearly isn’t working. That said Coyle’s men nearly did carve Rovers open on occasion, but their two goals came from hoofing it up the field, whilst Blackburn’s equaliser, before they switched off from the restart, arose strangely enough from a nice interchanging of passes.
It is a credit to the character and workrate of the Trotters that allowed them to dig deep and get three points after losing a player. Mark Davies’s elbow on Phil Jones before the hour mark could arguably have been a straight red rather than a second yellow. Blackburn couldn’t make their subsequent domination of the possession count. From right back Sam Ricketts tossed forwards a number of long balls and free kicks into Kevin Davies and between them Samba, Nelsen and Givet either failed to deal with them or surrendered the second ball.
The latter outcome was the case for substitute Fabrice Muamba’s sixty-fifth minute opener. The ex-Arsenal youngster showed sublime footwork to make an opening and placed it confidently beyond Paul Robinson. From then on Wanderers lived dangerously, but still managed to create chances of their own. Martin Petrov particularly impressed, despite his increasing years. Nonetheless Rovers produced something with less than five minutes of the ninety left. Substitute Hoilett played in Jason Roberts (we all thought he was surplus to requirements at Ewood Park) to set up Mame Biram Diouf who, with the aid of a deflection, put the ball over Jussi Jaaskelainen to equalise.
What a cliché it is, but you are most vulnerable when your side has just scored. Blackburn dithered from the kick off and within ten seconds the ball was hoofed again upfield by Ricketts, Davies flicked it on and Holden volleyed home to stun the visitors. Allardyce’s men gave everything to try and level the score again, ironically ending the match with five in the frontline, but could not find a way through.
I’ve never been one to sing Gary Cahill’s praises but overall today he was pretty impressive. Of the centre halves on the England national team fringe it has always seemed to me that Ryan Shawcross of Stoke has been the one who has shined brightest. If Coyle is going to steer Bolton into a European place and emulate Big Sam then he has to keep hold of Cahill who has been consistently linked with a move away from the Reebok for quite some time.
As for Rovers they are crying out for a striker who will finish their chances and get into double figures. Kalinic was overhyped when he signed for them and still has time to become a force, but being dubbed ‘the next Davor Suker’ at such a young age is piling ridiculous precious on the young Croatian. Neither Roberts nor Benjani are long term options and Mame Diouf is only on loan at Ewood Park from Manchester United. Big Sam needs the new owners to cough up in January so he can bring in some more options.
There is heavy irony in that the Trotters’ two goals had something Allardyce-esque about them, with their former manager suffering his first defeat at his old club since leaving in 2007 this afternoon. Successive managers, Lee and Megson, tried and failed to move out of the considerable shadow Big Sam left over the Reebok, departing Bolton after seven and a half years at the helm. His brand of football brought the club into Europe from a sixth placed finish and since then Wanderers have never looked like they could reach those heights again which many consider to be above their station, until now.
Owen Coyle, courted by Celtic in the wake of Gordon Strachan’s departure in the summer of 2009, stuck with his promoted Burnley to lead their top flight venture last season. By the halfway stage he had the shrewdness to see that the rest of the Premier League had finally taken notice of the surprise package that Turf Moor gave visiting teams. With the clarets no longer so defensively strong at home, a trend that has continued up to now with yesterday’s squandering of a two goal advantage to lose to Leeds 3-2, he opted to return to a club from his playing days.
Fans with long memories might recall that Little Sam Sammy Lee tried to play attractive football in the wake of Allardyce’s departure and got sacked with hardly a fair crack of the whip during the 2007-08 season. Here we must draw a crucial distinction. Coyle introduced his similar philosophies during the second half of a campaign and it kept them up, whilst Lee’s Bolton only played their way into the relegation places. Wanderers under Coyle now sit fifth and are guaranteed to remain in the top six no matter what the result of the other two heavyweight clashes in this round of matches.
Turning to today’s Lancashire Derby, from the outset the tactics of the visitors were vintage Big Sam. A 5-4-1 formation designed to frustrate the passing of the home side, with three centre halves aiming to neutralise the aerial presence of Trotters talisman Kevin Davies. You can say what you like about these ploys, but in the end the former worked and the latter did not. Rovers stopped Bolton playing football, but as is so often the case three at the back didn’t work as evidenced by Davies’s assist for Holden’s eighty-eighth minute winner.
Blackburn stopped Wanderers from their passing game, but Allardyce was undone by his own tactic of long ball used against him. Today’s result is a victory for the ability to mix footballing styles up and not rigidly adhere to a set way of approaching the game when it clearly isn’t working. That said Coyle’s men nearly did carve Rovers open on occasion, but their two goals came from hoofing it up the field, whilst Blackburn’s equaliser, before they switched off from the restart, arose strangely enough from a nice interchanging of passes.
It is a credit to the character and workrate of the Trotters that allowed them to dig deep and get three points after losing a player. Mark Davies’s elbow on Phil Jones before the hour mark could arguably have been a straight red rather than a second yellow. Blackburn couldn’t make their subsequent domination of the possession count. From right back Sam Ricketts tossed forwards a number of long balls and free kicks into Kevin Davies and between them Samba, Nelsen and Givet either failed to deal with them or surrendered the second ball.
The latter outcome was the case for substitute Fabrice Muamba’s sixty-fifth minute opener. The ex-Arsenal youngster showed sublime footwork to make an opening and placed it confidently beyond Paul Robinson. From then on Wanderers lived dangerously, but still managed to create chances of their own. Martin Petrov particularly impressed, despite his increasing years. Nonetheless Rovers produced something with less than five minutes of the ninety left. Substitute Hoilett played in Jason Roberts (we all thought he was surplus to requirements at Ewood Park) to set up Mame Biram Diouf who, with the aid of a deflection, put the ball over Jussi Jaaskelainen to equalise.
What a cliché it is, but you are most vulnerable when your side has just scored. Blackburn dithered from the kick off and within ten seconds the ball was hoofed again upfield by Ricketts, Davies flicked it on and Holden volleyed home to stun the visitors. Allardyce’s men gave everything to try and level the score again, ironically ending the match with five in the frontline, but could not find a way through.
I’ve never been one to sing Gary Cahill’s praises but overall today he was pretty impressive. Of the centre halves on the England national team fringe it has always seemed to me that Ryan Shawcross of Stoke has been the one who has shined brightest. If Coyle is going to steer Bolton into a European place and emulate Big Sam then he has to keep hold of Cahill who has been consistently linked with a move away from the Reebok for quite some time.
As for Rovers they are crying out for a striker who will finish their chances and get into double figures. Kalinic was overhyped when he signed for them and still has time to become a force, but being dubbed ‘the next Davor Suker’ at such a young age is piling ridiculous precious on the young Croatian. Neither Roberts nor Benjani are long term options and Mame Diouf is only on loan at Ewood Park from Manchester United. Big Sam needs the new owners to cough up in January so he can bring in some more options.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Rangers’ Run Ended by Hungry Hornets
QPR 1 Watford 3
Neil Warnock’s side suffered their first league defeat of the season thanks to a brace from Danny Graham and a Jordan Mutch strike, with ex-Hornet Tommy Smith netting a late consolation at Loftus Road tonight. Malky Mackay, very much at the opposite end of the managerial spectrum to his QPR counterpart, has had to rely on youth around a spine of experience. This is in contrast to the Londoners who have the investment to attract big names, but where Adel Taarabt flopped in front of the cameras, the visitors seemed the team most up for the battle.
One thing that concerned me coming into this game was the similarity in tactics both managers tend to employ; there is always the worry two sides will cancel each other out. In Danny Graham Watford have a mobile frontman, which represents one of the schools of thought on how to play with a lone striker. Rangers have the other, a target man to hold the ball up and flick it on in the now ageing Heidar Helguson. There’s no question who came out on top. The Icelandic international needs support and service because he simply doesn’t have the legs to go looking for the ball and I’ve never rated him as a finisher with his feet.
Graham showed promise early on in his career but has chosen to work his way up through the leagues and to be frank Watford will do well to hold on to him long term. Unlike Helguson he is a goalscorer through and through. He would not look out of place in a top end Championship outfit, maybe even a lower end Premier League club. There can be no doubt he profited from some dubious officiating and atrocious QPR defending tonight but his double turned out to be the difference between the sides. Clint Hill is too old to play left back and I said so when he was at Palace. On the counter or building attacks down the right, the Hornets exploited his lack of pace and his natural tendency to have a centre back’s positioning despite his wide berth.
More worryingly Warnock has made a mistake putting the captain’s armband on a flair player like Taarabt. Just the same as Cristiano Ronaldo with the Portuguese national side it has proven to be inhibiting and has not had the desired effect of turning him into a better team player by placing responsibility on his shoulders. The Moroccan was trying to the run the show by himself. Promotions and success do not come from mavericks. I am struggling to remember a more selfish display by a player, let alone by one wearing the captain’s armband! With one up top end product has to be a demand, not posturing, showboating and delaying crosses and through balls. He was totally ineffective.
Another defensive problem seems to be Matthew Connolly. The Arsenal youth academy product started out his career as a right full back and his conversion to the middle seemed to be working out, but tonight he was exposed. He is still young and hopefully will have taken some pointers from the defeat which will stand him in good stead for improving his game. Out wide I thought Jamie Mackie and Tommy Smith could have given more.
With the experience of Martin Taylor and John Eustace forming a strong spine with highly-rated keeper Scott Loach, who did his stock no harm at all this evening, Mackay has surrounded them with some of their own and youngsters brought in from Scotland and the lower leagues. Lloyd Doyley and Adrian Mariappa are academy garudates, Stephen McGinn and Don Cowie came from north of the border, and Will Buckley joined the Vicarage Road outfit from Rochdale. We mustn’t forget Graham too plied his trade for Carlisle in the division below before signing for the Hornets last summer.
It is a testament to the burgeoning talent of the Scot that these players have stepped up or made the grade from youth and reserve teams. They appear to have a great togetherness and spirit, evidenced on tonight’s outstanding performance by all of the XI. The need for new owners is obvious, but there are more than a few sides that have to worry about avoiding the drop that concern more than Watford. The worry as identified above is losing Graham, with Troy Deeney given limited opportunities to prove himself at a higher level since signing from Walsall.
Rangers scarcely deserved their consolation, though they did look more threatening with Rob Hulse on the pitch. He really does have a lot more about him than Helguson. Leon Clarke was almost absent despite his introduction from the bench along with the former Derby and Leeds centre forward. It seemed a shame that Watford’s clean sheet was ruined and Tommy Smith did not celebrate his eighty-ninth minute goal against one of his former clubs. QPR need to bounce back, not lose sight of their objective and start playing like a team again.
Neil Warnock’s side suffered their first league defeat of the season thanks to a brace from Danny Graham and a Jordan Mutch strike, with ex-Hornet Tommy Smith netting a late consolation at Loftus Road tonight. Malky Mackay, very much at the opposite end of the managerial spectrum to his QPR counterpart, has had to rely on youth around a spine of experience. This is in contrast to the Londoners who have the investment to attract big names, but where Adel Taarabt flopped in front of the cameras, the visitors seemed the team most up for the battle.
One thing that concerned me coming into this game was the similarity in tactics both managers tend to employ; there is always the worry two sides will cancel each other out. In Danny Graham Watford have a mobile frontman, which represents one of the schools of thought on how to play with a lone striker. Rangers have the other, a target man to hold the ball up and flick it on in the now ageing Heidar Helguson. There’s no question who came out on top. The Icelandic international needs support and service because he simply doesn’t have the legs to go looking for the ball and I’ve never rated him as a finisher with his feet.
Graham showed promise early on in his career but has chosen to work his way up through the leagues and to be frank Watford will do well to hold on to him long term. Unlike Helguson he is a goalscorer through and through. He would not look out of place in a top end Championship outfit, maybe even a lower end Premier League club. There can be no doubt he profited from some dubious officiating and atrocious QPR defending tonight but his double turned out to be the difference between the sides. Clint Hill is too old to play left back and I said so when he was at Palace. On the counter or building attacks down the right, the Hornets exploited his lack of pace and his natural tendency to have a centre back’s positioning despite his wide berth.
More worryingly Warnock has made a mistake putting the captain’s armband on a flair player like Taarabt. Just the same as Cristiano Ronaldo with the Portuguese national side it has proven to be inhibiting and has not had the desired effect of turning him into a better team player by placing responsibility on his shoulders. The Moroccan was trying to the run the show by himself. Promotions and success do not come from mavericks. I am struggling to remember a more selfish display by a player, let alone by one wearing the captain’s armband! With one up top end product has to be a demand, not posturing, showboating and delaying crosses and through balls. He was totally ineffective.
Another defensive problem seems to be Matthew Connolly. The Arsenal youth academy product started out his career as a right full back and his conversion to the middle seemed to be working out, but tonight he was exposed. He is still young and hopefully will have taken some pointers from the defeat which will stand him in good stead for improving his game. Out wide I thought Jamie Mackie and Tommy Smith could have given more.
With the experience of Martin Taylor and John Eustace forming a strong spine with highly-rated keeper Scott Loach, who did his stock no harm at all this evening, Mackay has surrounded them with some of their own and youngsters brought in from Scotland and the lower leagues. Lloyd Doyley and Adrian Mariappa are academy garudates, Stephen McGinn and Don Cowie came from north of the border, and Will Buckley joined the Vicarage Road outfit from Rochdale. We mustn’t forget Graham too plied his trade for Carlisle in the division below before signing for the Hornets last summer.
It is a testament to the burgeoning talent of the Scot that these players have stepped up or made the grade from youth and reserve teams. They appear to have a great togetherness and spirit, evidenced on tonight’s outstanding performance by all of the XI. The need for new owners is obvious, but there are more than a few sides that have to worry about avoiding the drop that concern more than Watford. The worry as identified above is losing Graham, with Troy Deeney given limited opportunities to prove himself at a higher level since signing from Walsall.
Rangers scarcely deserved their consolation, though they did look more threatening with Rob Hulse on the pitch. He really does have a lot more about him than Helguson. Leon Clarke was almost absent despite his introduction from the bench along with the former Derby and Leeds centre forward. It seemed a shame that Watford’s clean sheet was ruined and Tommy Smith did not celebrate his eighty-ninth minute goal against one of his former clubs. QPR need to bounce back, not lose sight of their objective and start playing like a team again.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Eleventh CL Advance for Gunners
Arsenal 3 FK Partizan 1
The opposition seemingly already on their winter break Arsene Wenger’s side booked their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League with an eventually comfortable home win. Partizan, who would finish bottom of the group no matter what the outcome, put five across midfield in a tactical decision that on paper was designed to stifle the Gunners but in practice highlighted their own lack of ambition and quality. To some extent it worked, the visitors keeping Arsenal out from open play during the first half, but you always felt it was only a matter of time before the English heavyweights clicked.
Everything was so nearly from Wenger’s men early on. As it often is, they take time to put that killer pass or ball in, with early approach play always threatening and effective. Apart from the van Persie penalty however the home side did not test Vladimir Stojkovic in the visiting goal at all until after the break. There’s no doubt that the award of a spot kick on the half hour was correct and the Dutchman wearing the captain’s armband for the night dispatched it well. Marko Jovanovic will have to learn to only make challenges across an attacker if he is certain of getting something on the ball.
Discussions of defensive frailties have become something of a broken record in commentaries on Arsenal this season, but these were exposed again in Brazilian striker Cleo’s equaliser for the Serbian outfit five minutes after the restart. I don’t rate Koscielny as a player who knows what he is doing when he is dragged out of position; he never looks sure of his ground and has been sent off in such scenarios during matches covered on JC Football previously this season. Squillaci’s deflection on the shot certainly helped it past Fabianski who had had nothing whatsoever to do until that point.
The Gunners rallied and brought on Walcott for the ineffective Arshavin, whose pace changed the game. I thought the Macedonian full back Aleksandar Lazevski impressed, limiting Nasri and Sagna down the right in the first half. After the break however and with a new adversary facing him, he hadn’t any ideas how to deal with it. Jovanovic was again poor defensively with a pathetic headed clearance which Walcott simply chested down and volleyed into the corner past Stojkovic.
Nasri put the game beyond doubt with his twelfth of the campaign the other side of the seventy-five minute mark, but it was the one-two prior to his finish across the keeper between Alex Song and Bendtner that made it. You worry when Fabregas is injured who breaks from midfield and the Cameroonian is not the obvious choice but he has a fantastic engine and showed wonderful footwork to put it on a place for the in-form Frenchman.
It wasn’t vintage Arsenal, but winning the group had been taken out of their hands anyway. Partizan were really quite poor and with two sitting, the other midfield three did almost nothing to aid Cleo who fed off scraps all night long. The final word must go to a great servant of the Serbains Mladen Krstajic who has had a long and successful career, the pinnacle of which was winning the Bundesliga with Bremen and playing for his country at the 2006 World Cup. Now thirty six, Belgrade need to replace him. Experience is one thing, atrocious positioning and lack of legs as a central defender is a recipe for disaster.
The opposition seemingly already on their winter break Arsene Wenger’s side booked their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League with an eventually comfortable home win. Partizan, who would finish bottom of the group no matter what the outcome, put five across midfield in a tactical decision that on paper was designed to stifle the Gunners but in practice highlighted their own lack of ambition and quality. To some extent it worked, the visitors keeping Arsenal out from open play during the first half, but you always felt it was only a matter of time before the English heavyweights clicked.
Everything was so nearly from Wenger’s men early on. As it often is, they take time to put that killer pass or ball in, with early approach play always threatening and effective. Apart from the van Persie penalty however the home side did not test Vladimir Stojkovic in the visiting goal at all until after the break. There’s no doubt that the award of a spot kick on the half hour was correct and the Dutchman wearing the captain’s armband for the night dispatched it well. Marko Jovanovic will have to learn to only make challenges across an attacker if he is certain of getting something on the ball.
Discussions of defensive frailties have become something of a broken record in commentaries on Arsenal this season, but these were exposed again in Brazilian striker Cleo’s equaliser for the Serbian outfit five minutes after the restart. I don’t rate Koscielny as a player who knows what he is doing when he is dragged out of position; he never looks sure of his ground and has been sent off in such scenarios during matches covered on JC Football previously this season. Squillaci’s deflection on the shot certainly helped it past Fabianski who had had nothing whatsoever to do until that point.
The Gunners rallied and brought on Walcott for the ineffective Arshavin, whose pace changed the game. I thought the Macedonian full back Aleksandar Lazevski impressed, limiting Nasri and Sagna down the right in the first half. After the break however and with a new adversary facing him, he hadn’t any ideas how to deal with it. Jovanovic was again poor defensively with a pathetic headed clearance which Walcott simply chested down and volleyed into the corner past Stojkovic.
Nasri put the game beyond doubt with his twelfth of the campaign the other side of the seventy-five minute mark, but it was the one-two prior to his finish across the keeper between Alex Song and Bendtner that made it. You worry when Fabregas is injured who breaks from midfield and the Cameroonian is not the obvious choice but he has a fantastic engine and showed wonderful footwork to put it on a place for the in-form Frenchman.
It wasn’t vintage Arsenal, but winning the group had been taken out of their hands anyway. Partizan were really quite poor and with two sitting, the other midfield three did almost nothing to aid Cleo who fed off scraps all night long. The final word must go to a great servant of the Serbains Mladen Krstajic who has had a long and successful career, the pinnacle of which was winning the Bundesliga with Bremen and playing for his country at the 2006 World Cup. Now thirty six, Belgrade need to replace him. Experience is one thing, atrocious positioning and lack of legs as a central defender is a recipe for disaster.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Canaries Carve Open Tractor Boys
Norwich 4 Ipswich 1
Roy Keane needs a big performance from his side in the Carling Cup quarter final against West Brom midweek to ease the pressure on him and the dissatisfaction that Town fans will feel after today’s poor display against their bitter rivals. A hat-trick from yellows talisman Grant Holt and a Wes Hoolahan strike off the bench pushed the home side into the play-off places. This was the most absorbing game of football I’ve covered on JC Football, the first half in particular was a joy to watch. The match had everything you wanted from a derby as a neutral, end-to-end action, goals, talking points, competitiveness and passion.
Norwich were fantastic today. The captain led from the front with an outstanding performance that not only saw him rewarded with the match ball but also effecting a sending off which played its own contribution to ending the game as a contest. What I can’t understand is constant criticism of Holt’s lack of pace. Now nobody is saying he can give Theo Walcott a run for his money, but if you think about how good his movement off the ball was today and consider he played out wide during his days at Nottingham Forest, is he really that slow? Far less mobile frontmen have plied their trade in the Championship over the years than the Canaries number nine and he combines the little bursts of quickness he does display with strength and determination.
Henri Lansbury’s loan signing was definitely a coup for Paul Lambert before the window slammed shut this week. Cutting inside from the flank is often a hot and cold tactic in modern football, but today the Arsenal youngster was definitely the former. His assist for Holt’s second would not have looked out of place in yesterday’s 4-2 away win over Villa enjoyed by Lansbury’s parent club. Rarely have I seen coming inside be so effective for so long. There seemed to be a fluidity to the Norwich midfield which is refreshing to see at this level.
Andrew Crofts was always willing to get into wide areas, Hoolahan looked a threat when he came on and both Russell Martin and Simon Lappin used their experience to make contributions to attacks from the full back berths. When David Fox signed for the Carrow Road club I thought it was a bit of a gamble on Lambert’s part, but his distribution, particularly long range passing during the opening forty five really was top draw. Today was one of those occasions when you could see why he had been on Manchester United’s books.
As great as the home side were, Ipswich were horrendous at the back. First of all Keane is going to have to take some stick for his tactical selections. I can remember watching Damien Delaney play for Hull when they visited Sincil Bank in the 2003-04 season when they won promotion from League Two and Lincoln missed out, losing for the umpteenth time in the playoffs. At full back he was a revelation, but has never been convincing as a centre half. Whoever told Darren O’Dea he could occupy a position on the flank needs their head examining! Surely in one of the defining games of the season you play the defender with the most experience available to you in that position there. The irony was after Delaney’s dismissal O’Dea looked more composed in the middle.
Speaking of the red card, although the contact on Holt was minimal, when a defender puts his hands on a player in the middle of the park and playing a high line you are asking for trouble. If Delaney had started on the left then he wouldn’t have made that challenge. Back to O’Dea and wasn’t he soft in trying to deal with the long ball which lead to the opening goal. The Celtic loanee looked so uncomfortable in the channel, it was clear that position was alien to him. It’s a cliché but once you let the ball bounce you've got problems. This was a region Holt had success in all day long and he caused debutant Gianni Zuiverloon some difficulties.
Going forward the Dutchman, on loan from West Brom, looked solid enough but he has always struck me to be a Glen Johnson/Maicon-like full back who has the legs but not the defensive nous. Town’s defending of set pieces was especially appalling and some work on the training ground needs to take place. As mentioned above the sending off changed the match as it always does and until then the visitors had their fair share of pressure and possession. Delaney had equalised for Ipswich from a set piece before going from hero to zero; Leon Barnett taking the responsibility for Norwich’s failure to keep a clean sheet.
Jason Scotland did not look best pleased at being substituted after the Tractor Boys went down to ten and Keane needs to be careful to keep the most experienced goalscorer at this level he has onside. What lost them the game was the constant changing of the back four as alterations did not improve matters. Carlos Edwards is a winger through and through, not a right back, although on the other side I thought young Jack Colback did well when he slotted in, moving down midfield. The defeat for Ipswich highlights how vital it is to have consistency about defensive selections.
Roy Keane needs a big performance from his side in the Carling Cup quarter final against West Brom midweek to ease the pressure on him and the dissatisfaction that Town fans will feel after today’s poor display against their bitter rivals. A hat-trick from yellows talisman Grant Holt and a Wes Hoolahan strike off the bench pushed the home side into the play-off places. This was the most absorbing game of football I’ve covered on JC Football, the first half in particular was a joy to watch. The match had everything you wanted from a derby as a neutral, end-to-end action, goals, talking points, competitiveness and passion.
Norwich were fantastic today. The captain led from the front with an outstanding performance that not only saw him rewarded with the match ball but also effecting a sending off which played its own contribution to ending the game as a contest. What I can’t understand is constant criticism of Holt’s lack of pace. Now nobody is saying he can give Theo Walcott a run for his money, but if you think about how good his movement off the ball was today and consider he played out wide during his days at Nottingham Forest, is he really that slow? Far less mobile frontmen have plied their trade in the Championship over the years than the Canaries number nine and he combines the little bursts of quickness he does display with strength and determination.
Henri Lansbury’s loan signing was definitely a coup for Paul Lambert before the window slammed shut this week. Cutting inside from the flank is often a hot and cold tactic in modern football, but today the Arsenal youngster was definitely the former. His assist for Holt’s second would not have looked out of place in yesterday’s 4-2 away win over Villa enjoyed by Lansbury’s parent club. Rarely have I seen coming inside be so effective for so long. There seemed to be a fluidity to the Norwich midfield which is refreshing to see at this level.
Andrew Crofts was always willing to get into wide areas, Hoolahan looked a threat when he came on and both Russell Martin and Simon Lappin used their experience to make contributions to attacks from the full back berths. When David Fox signed for the Carrow Road club I thought it was a bit of a gamble on Lambert’s part, but his distribution, particularly long range passing during the opening forty five really was top draw. Today was one of those occasions when you could see why he had been on Manchester United’s books.
As great as the home side were, Ipswich were horrendous at the back. First of all Keane is going to have to take some stick for his tactical selections. I can remember watching Damien Delaney play for Hull when they visited Sincil Bank in the 2003-04 season when they won promotion from League Two and Lincoln missed out, losing for the umpteenth time in the playoffs. At full back he was a revelation, but has never been convincing as a centre half. Whoever told Darren O’Dea he could occupy a position on the flank needs their head examining! Surely in one of the defining games of the season you play the defender with the most experience available to you in that position there. The irony was after Delaney’s dismissal O’Dea looked more composed in the middle.
Speaking of the red card, although the contact on Holt was minimal, when a defender puts his hands on a player in the middle of the park and playing a high line you are asking for trouble. If Delaney had started on the left then he wouldn’t have made that challenge. Back to O’Dea and wasn’t he soft in trying to deal with the long ball which lead to the opening goal. The Celtic loanee looked so uncomfortable in the channel, it was clear that position was alien to him. It’s a cliché but once you let the ball bounce you've got problems. This was a region Holt had success in all day long and he caused debutant Gianni Zuiverloon some difficulties.
Going forward the Dutchman, on loan from West Brom, looked solid enough but he has always struck me to be a Glen Johnson/Maicon-like full back who has the legs but not the defensive nous. Town’s defending of set pieces was especially appalling and some work on the training ground needs to take place. As mentioned above the sending off changed the match as it always does and until then the visitors had their fair share of pressure and possession. Delaney had equalised for Ipswich from a set piece before going from hero to zero; Leon Barnett taking the responsibility for Norwich’s failure to keep a clean sheet.
Jason Scotland did not look best pleased at being substituted after the Tractor Boys went down to ten and Keane needs to be careful to keep the most experienced goalscorer at this level he has onside. What lost them the game was the constant changing of the back four as alterations did not improve matters. Carlos Edwards is a winger through and through, not a right back, although on the other side I thought young Jack Colback did well when he slotted in, moving down midfield. The defeat for Ipswich highlights how vital it is to have consistency about defensive selections.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
The FA Cup Alive and Well
AFC Wimbledon 0 Stevenage 2
Could Stevenage fans ever imagine, even in their wildest dreams, they would have a player on their books that has Premier League experience and scored a European goal against German giants Bayern Munich? Step forward Josh Walker, ex-Middlesbrough central midfielder, whose exploits in the UEFA Cup on loan at Aberdeen couldn’t earn him a place at the highest level. He has even found first team opportunities difficult to come by at Watford and so on Thursday night Graham Westley signed him for the League Two outfit on loan.
What a way to introduce and endear yourself to the fans of a club living the Football League dream for the first time. With only a day’s training alongside his new teammates, Walker’s twenty-fourth minute free kick, coupled with substitute Yemi Odubade’s scuffed strike in the closing stages, have sent Stevenage into the promised land of the third round of the FA Cup where one of the heavyweights of English football may well be paired with them. For me the magic of the world’s oldest knockout football competition is conjured by and during that weekend in early January when Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, et al, all enter. Sure, in recent times we have seen some of the mighty that have fallen in the first couple of rounds, but the beautiful game on a cold winter’s afternoon really does burst to life with this set of the Christmas/New Year fixture list.
In every respect this afternoon’s match at Kingsmeadow was the quintessential cup tie. Passion on the park, tackles flying in and a high tempo. The minnows at home, sizing up the kind of opposition Wimbledon are on course to meet next season, as this incarnation of the Dons seeks to make it into the Football League and emulate Stevenage. The champions elect of the Conference are admittedly ahead of schedule, but with four promotions in seven seasons momentum is with them. It will be scant consolation to New Tricks star Alun Armstrong and other avid Wimbledon fans in the short term going out of the FA Cup this afternoon, but it many ways this could be a blessing in disguise.
Today’s game live on terrestrial TV was their moment in the spotlight and with the January Transfer Window very much on the horizon, with all the panic buying that entails it could well have been an opportunity for Terry Brown’s lads to play themselves into a move to a higher level. Danny Kedwell may have failed to make the grade at Gillingham, but any armchair fans that have sat in front of Soccer Saturday or Score will have seen his name pop up on the videprinter incessantly over the last couple of years. Although he did not find the net today, he dragged both centre halves out of position and turned them when he did get some service and with a better touch he would have got at least a consolation for Wimbledon.
In the summer when Barnet somewhat foolishly parted company with the services of Ismail Yakubu, I wondered if he might find a bigger Football League club to ply his trade with. As it was he ended up signing for the Dons. He has always been a player that has been good at what he does; provide an aerial presence at the back, naturally a danger from set pieces at the other end and deals fairly well with the opposition if they employ long ball tactics. Otherwise he is a no nonsense centre half. What Yakubu has never been able to do is be comfortable in possession or when he is dragged out of position. The latter is exactly the tactic that Stevenage used to unnerve him. On top of that Chris Beardsley held the ball up superbly despite lining up against him. The visiting striker arguably played the target man role better than Kedwell did for the home side.
Could Stevenage fans ever imagine, even in their wildest dreams, they would have a player on their books that has Premier League experience and scored a European goal against German giants Bayern Munich? Step forward Josh Walker, ex-Middlesbrough central midfielder, whose exploits in the UEFA Cup on loan at Aberdeen couldn’t earn him a place at the highest level. He has even found first team opportunities difficult to come by at Watford and so on Thursday night Graham Westley signed him for the League Two outfit on loan.
What a way to introduce and endear yourself to the fans of a club living the Football League dream for the first time. With only a day’s training alongside his new teammates, Walker’s twenty-fourth minute free kick, coupled with substitute Yemi Odubade’s scuffed strike in the closing stages, have sent Stevenage into the promised land of the third round of the FA Cup where one of the heavyweights of English football may well be paired with them. For me the magic of the world’s oldest knockout football competition is conjured by and during that weekend in early January when Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, et al, all enter. Sure, in recent times we have seen some of the mighty that have fallen in the first couple of rounds, but the beautiful game on a cold winter’s afternoon really does burst to life with this set of the Christmas/New Year fixture list.
In every respect this afternoon’s match at Kingsmeadow was the quintessential cup tie. Passion on the park, tackles flying in and a high tempo. The minnows at home, sizing up the kind of opposition Wimbledon are on course to meet next season, as this incarnation of the Dons seeks to make it into the Football League and emulate Stevenage. The champions elect of the Conference are admittedly ahead of schedule, but with four promotions in seven seasons momentum is with them. It will be scant consolation to New Tricks star Alun Armstrong and other avid Wimbledon fans in the short term going out of the FA Cup this afternoon, but it many ways this could be a blessing in disguise.
Today’s game live on terrestrial TV was their moment in the spotlight and with the January Transfer Window very much on the horizon, with all the panic buying that entails it could well have been an opportunity for Terry Brown’s lads to play themselves into a move to a higher level. Danny Kedwell may have failed to make the grade at Gillingham, but any armchair fans that have sat in front of Soccer Saturday or Score will have seen his name pop up on the videprinter incessantly over the last couple of years. Although he did not find the net today, he dragged both centre halves out of position and turned them when he did get some service and with a better touch he would have got at least a consolation for Wimbledon.
In the summer when Barnet somewhat foolishly parted company with the services of Ismail Yakubu, I wondered if he might find a bigger Football League club to ply his trade with. As it was he ended up signing for the Dons. He has always been a player that has been good at what he does; provide an aerial presence at the back, naturally a danger from set pieces at the other end and deals fairly well with the opposition if they employ long ball tactics. Otherwise he is a no nonsense centre half. What Yakubu has never been able to do is be comfortable in possession or when he is dragged out of position. The latter is exactly the tactic that Stevenage used to unnerve him. On top of that Chris Beardsley held the ball up superbly despite lining up against him. The visiting striker arguably played the target man role better than Kedwell did for the home side.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Harbinger of a Tartan Soccer Apocalypse
It pains me to say it but Scottish football is dying a death. Referees have chosen to strike because they can’t take criticism and the sole representative of the nation in European competitions showed a minimal amount of attacking intent tonight. We could sit here for eternity and talk about injuries (and not just for Rangers), but playing five at the back when only a win was ever going to be enough to keep your side in the Champions League seemed a tactical move that lacked courage on the part of Walter Smith.
David Weir reportedly still ‘loves the game’, but what does it say for the SPL that a forty year old (and not a goalie) is a commanding defensive presence at a big club? The future isn’t bright, certainly not orange, it’s bleak! Eighteen-goal Kenny Miller didn’t really come close to scoring against Manchester United. He should’ve squared for the on-loan Vladimir Weiss who might have had a tap in late in the first half. If I had been one of the Ibrox faithful I would have wanted my money back.
Rangers just didn’t look like they were set up to do anything that soak up the visitors’ pressure. Miller’s movement was good but the ball seldom reached him and his teammates barely got out of their own half during the opening forty five. They were better after the break but on the counter they offered nothing but misplaced passes, squandering the momentum almost as soon as it had swung in their favour. So incessant were the waves of visiting attacks, most of the time the casual observer would not have known that the Red Devils were the away team.
Steven Naismith’s challenge on Fabio da Silva which resulted in the award of a United penalty converted by the much maligned Wayne Rooney should have been a sending off. If that sort of contact occurred anywhere else on the pitch and arguably even in the penalty area a red card has to be given, but the Swiss officials decided on yellow. Just what passes for violent conduct in Scotland?
At times with the lack of endeavour made you wonder if the home side had settled for the guarantee they already pretty much had of playing Europa League football in the New Year. Rangers never worked Edwin Van Der Sar and Smith seemed loathe to change formation or the personnel. James Beattie has had an injury-hit spell in Glasgow but why was he not brought off the bench sooner?
As alluded to earlier Manchester United were not at full strength, certainly not in defence. It really strikes you as an opportunity missed for Rangers to attack, but injuries and the tactics that Smith prefers detract from this philosophy. The personnel available did not make this possible. A word for John O’Shea who has continued to show a willingness to fit in where required for a number of years now, a trait in the modern game which is rarely celebrated.
The rest of the Red Devils’ back four is still learning. It was a good attacking display from Fabio and Johnny Evans was nearly found out in the second half by Naismith around the hour mark. It was the first time he and Chris Smalling had played together as a pair and though it did show at times they weren’t given that much of an examination by Rangers. One positive you can take if you’re from the blue half of Glasgow is that United could not break the Ibrox side down from open play.
David Weir reportedly still ‘loves the game’, but what does it say for the SPL that a forty year old (and not a goalie) is a commanding defensive presence at a big club? The future isn’t bright, certainly not orange, it’s bleak! Eighteen-goal Kenny Miller didn’t really come close to scoring against Manchester United. He should’ve squared for the on-loan Vladimir Weiss who might have had a tap in late in the first half. If I had been one of the Ibrox faithful I would have wanted my money back.
Rangers just didn’t look like they were set up to do anything that soak up the visitors’ pressure. Miller’s movement was good but the ball seldom reached him and his teammates barely got out of their own half during the opening forty five. They were better after the break but on the counter they offered nothing but misplaced passes, squandering the momentum almost as soon as it had swung in their favour. So incessant were the waves of visiting attacks, most of the time the casual observer would not have known that the Red Devils were the away team.
Steven Naismith’s challenge on Fabio da Silva which resulted in the award of a United penalty converted by the much maligned Wayne Rooney should have been a sending off. If that sort of contact occurred anywhere else on the pitch and arguably even in the penalty area a red card has to be given, but the Swiss officials decided on yellow. Just what passes for violent conduct in Scotland?
At times with the lack of endeavour made you wonder if the home side had settled for the guarantee they already pretty much had of playing Europa League football in the New Year. Rangers never worked Edwin Van Der Sar and Smith seemed loathe to change formation or the personnel. James Beattie has had an injury-hit spell in Glasgow but why was he not brought off the bench sooner?
As alluded to earlier Manchester United were not at full strength, certainly not in defence. It really strikes you as an opportunity missed for Rangers to attack, but injuries and the tactics that Smith prefers detract from this philosophy. The personnel available did not make this possible. A word for John O’Shea who has continued to show a willingness to fit in where required for a number of years now, a trait in the modern game which is rarely celebrated.
The rest of the Red Devils’ back four is still learning. It was a good attacking display from Fabio and Johnny Evans was nearly found out in the second half by Naismith around the hour mark. It was the first time he and Chris Smalling had played together as a pair and though it did show at times they weren’t given that much of an examination by Rangers. One positive you can take if you’re from the blue half of Glasgow is that United could not break the Ibrox side down from open play.
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Abject England's Wost Performance under Capello
England 1 France 2
In undoubtedly the most appalling display under the management of Fabio Capello, a blend of youth and experience in the England side fell way short of the mark, going down to 2-1 defeat to Les Bleus at Wembley. A first half goal fifteen minutes in from glorified Real Madrid substitute Karim Benzema and a Mathieu Valbuena strike after the break but before the hour sealed the win with a Peter Crouch consolation the home side scarcely deserved coming late on.
Where do you start with tonight’s friendly defeat to one of the nation’s bitter rivals? This game, more so than normal for a fan of the Three Lions, was difficult to watch full stop. England just weren’t in it for the first half. You genuinely wouldn’t have known that game was at Wembley if in the top corner of television screens it put their name first. Service into the in-form Andy Carroll was nonexistent and he endured a frustrating and torrid debut along with fellow international first-timer Jordan Henderson and Kieran Gibbs, making his first start. The home side just couldn’t get the ball off the visitors and Gareth Barry for me had another poor night in the holding role. If it’s your job to break up the play first and foremost then make sure you do it!
Tactically, playing Phil Jagielka at full back when he hasn’t played there for the best part of five years is frankly inept. The Everton defender has moved on from his days at Sheffield United being a jack of all trades, including emergency goalkeeper. On form he deserved head and shoulders above any other England player in the squad to start partnering Rio Ferdinand at centre half, instead it was Joleon Lescott, a bit part player in Manchester City’s season so far, that got the nod. It was the right side of the Lions defence however that was at fault for France’s opener. Chelsea’s Florent Malouda and Benzema exchanged passes with a sluggish response from Jagielka and Ferdinand and before you knew it the latter had beaten Ben Foster at his near post.
France’s midfield seemed superior in every way and Capello did nothing to try and exploit the inexperience of the holding Yann M’Vila. Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Malouda really ran the show; they were so much more fluid than the static Lions midfield. The 4-2-3-1 formation now seems to have died a death. Theo Walcott had one incisive run later on in the first half, but in typical fashion for England tonight it didn’t amount to anything. Philippe Mexes, who has been outstanding for years at Roma and was frozen out under previous management, came across superbly from centre half to snuff out the danger. His return to the international fold is one of Laurent Blanc’s best weapons.
The 1998 World Cup winning defender has sent a bad message to his players for me though. Barcelona’s Eric Abidal had been suspended from international duty until this game for his part in the circus that was the French national team in South Africa and yet he was restored to a starting berth at full back on his return to the fold. With Pep Guardiola signing Adriano Correia in the summer his place in the Spanish giants’ side is not guaranteed and Gael Clichy has performed well in his absence, with Arsenal’s left lack probably feeling aggrieved at losing his place in the side. Abidal has been a good servant to France, but the bottom line is that he is not a long term option and as he gets older he will have to be considered as a centre half instead, much like most capped player Lilian Thuram was.
England weren’t really that much better in the second half. The one positive to take from this abject display is the continuing brilliant record of Peter Crouch. His hooked finished from fellow substitute Ashley Young’s corner with five minutes of the ninety remaining was well taken, even if it wasn’t deserved. The Lions did play better football after the break, but they never really forced Hugo Lloris in the visiting goal into making a save you wouldn’t expect any keeper to make. Tonight was an opportunity missed for a number of players to stake their claims. It didn’t work out for Henderson or substitute Jay Bothroyd and it is a certainty Gibbs will be dropped in favour of Ashley Cole unless injury prevents it. His lack of defending allowed Bacary Sagna down the right unopposed to set up Les Bleus second.
We can’t have seen the last of Andy Carroll in an England shirt though; if his good league form continues then Capello has no choice but to carry on selecting him. Many fans would have liked to see Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton included in the squad and on form he certainly deserved a place as much as any other midfielder. In conclusion all you can say is we all hope that the players are more up for the next competitive international than they were tonight!
In undoubtedly the most appalling display under the management of Fabio Capello, a blend of youth and experience in the England side fell way short of the mark, going down to 2-1 defeat to Les Bleus at Wembley. A first half goal fifteen minutes in from glorified Real Madrid substitute Karim Benzema and a Mathieu Valbuena strike after the break but before the hour sealed the win with a Peter Crouch consolation the home side scarcely deserved coming late on.
Where do you start with tonight’s friendly defeat to one of the nation’s bitter rivals? This game, more so than normal for a fan of the Three Lions, was difficult to watch full stop. England just weren’t in it for the first half. You genuinely wouldn’t have known that game was at Wembley if in the top corner of television screens it put their name first. Service into the in-form Andy Carroll was nonexistent and he endured a frustrating and torrid debut along with fellow international first-timer Jordan Henderson and Kieran Gibbs, making his first start. The home side just couldn’t get the ball off the visitors and Gareth Barry for me had another poor night in the holding role. If it’s your job to break up the play first and foremost then make sure you do it!
Tactically, playing Phil Jagielka at full back when he hasn’t played there for the best part of five years is frankly inept. The Everton defender has moved on from his days at Sheffield United being a jack of all trades, including emergency goalkeeper. On form he deserved head and shoulders above any other England player in the squad to start partnering Rio Ferdinand at centre half, instead it was Joleon Lescott, a bit part player in Manchester City’s season so far, that got the nod. It was the right side of the Lions defence however that was at fault for France’s opener. Chelsea’s Florent Malouda and Benzema exchanged passes with a sluggish response from Jagielka and Ferdinand and before you knew it the latter had beaten Ben Foster at his near post.
France’s midfield seemed superior in every way and Capello did nothing to try and exploit the inexperience of the holding Yann M’Vila. Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Malouda really ran the show; they were so much more fluid than the static Lions midfield. The 4-2-3-1 formation now seems to have died a death. Theo Walcott had one incisive run later on in the first half, but in typical fashion for England tonight it didn’t amount to anything. Philippe Mexes, who has been outstanding for years at Roma and was frozen out under previous management, came across superbly from centre half to snuff out the danger. His return to the international fold is one of Laurent Blanc’s best weapons.
The 1998 World Cup winning defender has sent a bad message to his players for me though. Barcelona’s Eric Abidal had been suspended from international duty until this game for his part in the circus that was the French national team in South Africa and yet he was restored to a starting berth at full back on his return to the fold. With Pep Guardiola signing Adriano Correia in the summer his place in the Spanish giants’ side is not guaranteed and Gael Clichy has performed well in his absence, with Arsenal’s left lack probably feeling aggrieved at losing his place in the side. Abidal has been a good servant to France, but the bottom line is that he is not a long term option and as he gets older he will have to be considered as a centre half instead, much like most capped player Lilian Thuram was.
England weren’t really that much better in the second half. The one positive to take from this abject display is the continuing brilliant record of Peter Crouch. His hooked finished from fellow substitute Ashley Young’s corner with five minutes of the ninety remaining was well taken, even if it wasn’t deserved. The Lions did play better football after the break, but they never really forced Hugo Lloris in the visiting goal into making a save you wouldn’t expect any keeper to make. Tonight was an opportunity missed for a number of players to stake their claims. It didn’t work out for Henderson or substitute Jay Bothroyd and it is a certainty Gibbs will be dropped in favour of Ashley Cole unless injury prevents it. His lack of defending allowed Bacary Sagna down the right unopposed to set up Les Bleus second.
We can’t have seen the last of Andy Carroll in an England shirt though; if his good league form continues then Capello has no choice but to carry on selecting him. Many fans would have liked to see Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton included in the squad and on form he certainly deserved a place as much as any other midfielder. In conclusion all you can say is we all hope that the players are more up for the next competitive international than they were tonight!
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Adam Assists Scotland to Friendly Win
Scotland 3 Faroe Islands 0
Charlie Adam provided a couple of assists to help Craig Levein’s side to a comfortable victory over their Faroese opponents at Pittodrie. First half goals from debutant Danny Wilson and the breaking of international ducks for both Kris Commons and Jamie Mackie ended the friendly match as a contest by the interval. The visitors, managed by Brian Kerr, put up little resistance but could have taken the lead had Jann Ingi Petersen’s free kick not taken and nick and rattled the bar inside the opening ten minutes.
The quality of Scotland’s opposition was pretty much nonexistent and Gunnar Nielsen in the Faroe Islands goal was by a long shot the busier. Much of the build-up to this encounter in Aberdeen surrounded whether or not the game was a worthwhile venture with Levein experiencing so many withdrawals and resting experienced internationals. For me friendly matches are about blooding new players and trying new tactics. This should even be the case in games against rivals and with one eye on tomorrow it is encouraging to see that Fabio Capello has pledged to do this, even if injuries may have forced the Italian’s hand slightly. His Scottish counterpart certainly used tonight to have a look at new players, seven in total. Some may never get near the national squad again, but nobody did anything particularly wrong tonight.
Scotland are not going to come up against such slack defending from set pieces every time the nation plays and you can easily dismiss goals scored against weak opposition. If you look however at some of the big names of world football they have a number of international goals against lesser nations. Spain’s Fernando Torres and David Villa have 10 of 26 and 8 from 45 against sides ranked in the lower echelons of world football, and Mirsolav Klose has 7 of his 58, including a brace against the Faroe Islands. The big players still contribute to their totals from games like the one tonight and imagine the confidence scoring for the first time on the international stage may have given Mackie who has not been in the rich vein of form that he started the season with for QPR.
All this may be in the interests of balance but the defending of corners by Kerr’s men was just dreadful. Blackpool midfielder Adam made the most of this, sensing that getting deliveries in would cause panic and Levein’s side profited. Wilson got across his man to put the ball beyond Nielsen on twenty four minutes. Commons doubled the lead on the half hour with a flick and Mackie added the third before half time tapping home when Steven Caldwell headed down another debutant Barry Bannan’s cross. The Aston Villa youngster also caught the eye with some good passing and crashing a long range effort against the post. Scotland were never in any danger and after the break there wasn’t any real need to create an opening.
Looking further ahead Scotland will have sterner tests to come with the Nations Cup next spring and beyond that entertaining the Czechs next September and a visit to Spain the following month in EURO 2010 Qualifying Group I. They currently sit third two points behind a playoff place having played a game more. Not even the most optimistic Tartan Army supporter can believe they can win the group; that honour will go to the reigning European and World Champions, but they are contenders to finish second and much will hinge on the Czech Republic match at Hampden.
Charlie Adam provided a couple of assists to help Craig Levein’s side to a comfortable victory over their Faroese opponents at Pittodrie. First half goals from debutant Danny Wilson and the breaking of international ducks for both Kris Commons and Jamie Mackie ended the friendly match as a contest by the interval. The visitors, managed by Brian Kerr, put up little resistance but could have taken the lead had Jann Ingi Petersen’s free kick not taken and nick and rattled the bar inside the opening ten minutes.
The quality of Scotland’s opposition was pretty much nonexistent and Gunnar Nielsen in the Faroe Islands goal was by a long shot the busier. Much of the build-up to this encounter in Aberdeen surrounded whether or not the game was a worthwhile venture with Levein experiencing so many withdrawals and resting experienced internationals. For me friendly matches are about blooding new players and trying new tactics. This should even be the case in games against rivals and with one eye on tomorrow it is encouraging to see that Fabio Capello has pledged to do this, even if injuries may have forced the Italian’s hand slightly. His Scottish counterpart certainly used tonight to have a look at new players, seven in total. Some may never get near the national squad again, but nobody did anything particularly wrong tonight.
Scotland are not going to come up against such slack defending from set pieces every time the nation plays and you can easily dismiss goals scored against weak opposition. If you look however at some of the big names of world football they have a number of international goals against lesser nations. Spain’s Fernando Torres and David Villa have 10 of 26 and 8 from 45 against sides ranked in the lower echelons of world football, and Mirsolav Klose has 7 of his 58, including a brace against the Faroe Islands. The big players still contribute to their totals from games like the one tonight and imagine the confidence scoring for the first time on the international stage may have given Mackie who has not been in the rich vein of form that he started the season with for QPR.
All this may be in the interests of balance but the defending of corners by Kerr’s men was just dreadful. Blackpool midfielder Adam made the most of this, sensing that getting deliveries in would cause panic and Levein’s side profited. Wilson got across his man to put the ball beyond Nielsen on twenty four minutes. Commons doubled the lead on the half hour with a flick and Mackie added the third before half time tapping home when Steven Caldwell headed down another debutant Barry Bannan’s cross. The Aston Villa youngster also caught the eye with some good passing and crashing a long range effort against the post. Scotland were never in any danger and after the break there wasn’t any real need to create an opening.
Looking further ahead Scotland will have sterner tests to come with the Nations Cup next spring and beyond that entertaining the Czechs next September and a visit to Spain the following month in EURO 2010 Qualifying Group I. They currently sit third two points behind a playoff place having played a game more. Not even the most optimistic Tartan Army supporter can believe they can win the group; that honour will go to the reigning European and World Champions, but they are contenders to finish second and much will hinge on the Czech Republic match at Hampden.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Sunderland Sparkle at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3
Carlo Ancelotti’s side missed the chance to go six points clear of Manchester United and five above Arsenal after an abject home display that saw the visiting Mackems win there for the first time in eleven attempts. In recent years this had been a fixture that saw Sunderland travel to the Capital and go back to Wearside with nothing, having received a good hiding. Chelsea had put five, six and seven goals past the Stadium of Light outfit in previous meetings, but without key personnel it was the away side that took the points.
Nedum Onuoha must be wondering if now he has got the attention of Fabio Capello, after the versatile defender scored a sublime opener with a superb run, magnificent skill to take on four or five top international footballers and then coolly slot past Petr Cech like a predatory striker. It was coolness personified and yet he has been overlooked for the friendly with France with only one recognised right back in the squad. Not only did he score one of the finest goals I have ever seen a player from the back four net in Premier League history but defensively he was outstanding. Both he and Jagielka in the earlier game put in marvellous tackles, showing tremendous bravery, as if they didn’t get the ball their dismissals would’ve been certainties.
Not only was the win a huge scalp for Steve Bruce’s side to take but the Mackems kept a clean sheet against the deadly front three of Drogba, Malouda and Anelka, a twenty four goal attack so far this season. With performances like this you can see why Michael Turner has been on the fringe of the fringes of the England squad for some time now. The former Hull City defender who was named on standby may finally get the call-up to replace the injured John Terry. Another uncapped Englishman did his claims of earning the opportunity to represent the Three Lions some good when Jordan Henderson provided an assist for the second goal. Both he and Lee Cattermole, who has had notable disciplinary problems this season, worked superbly in the centre of the park for the Wearsiders, the latter hurrying Chelsea players into mistakes.
There’s no getting away from the fact Chelsea were missing injured quartet Terry, Lampard, Benayoun and Alex, with the influential Michael Essien also unavailable through suspension. Their absence was telling. It was alarming to see Paulo Ferreira at centre half and much as I have sung the praises of Branislav Ivanovic he needs a partner with pace and experience. The Serb should’ve been sent off for a trip on Danny Welbeck late in the first half as he was the last man, but like the earlier game which contained a similar incident, referee Chris Foy brandished yellow instead of red. Carlo Ancelotti’s side created a mere brace of clear openings. First a lofted through ball into Anelka played by Mikel saw the recently returned Craig Gordon in the Mackems goal smother bravely at the Frenchman’s feet. The other chance fell to Yuri Zkirkov, who showed quick feet, but dragged his effort wide. Without Lampard the lack of cut and thurst from central midfield is so noticeable and I am getting sick and tired of mentioning it.
This Sunderland side looked worlds apart from the disgraceful performance in the Tyne-Wear Derby where they were demolished by bitter rivals Newcastle 5-1. Since then the Mackems have taken seven from a possible nine and to put that into perspective top scorer Darren Bent has been injured. It’s hard to majorly fault any of Steve Bruce’s players based on today’s performance. Their change in form seems down to the predatory instincts of Asamoah Gyan, who has impressed from a starting place, and Welbeck finding his feet on Wearside, as well as shoring things up at the back. Both players got on the scoresheet in the second half, the former slotting home coolly less than ten minutes after the break, while the latter ensured criticism for spurning earlier chances would be forgotten pouncing on an uncharacteristic mistake by Ashley Cole late on. The England left back played a horrendous back pass and Welbeck tapped the ball past the advancing Cech to put an exclamation point on this resounding victory.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side missed the chance to go six points clear of Manchester United and five above Arsenal after an abject home display that saw the visiting Mackems win there for the first time in eleven attempts. In recent years this had been a fixture that saw Sunderland travel to the Capital and go back to Wearside with nothing, having received a good hiding. Chelsea had put five, six and seven goals past the Stadium of Light outfit in previous meetings, but without key personnel it was the away side that took the points.
Nedum Onuoha must be wondering if now he has got the attention of Fabio Capello, after the versatile defender scored a sublime opener with a superb run, magnificent skill to take on four or five top international footballers and then coolly slot past Petr Cech like a predatory striker. It was coolness personified and yet he has been overlooked for the friendly with France with only one recognised right back in the squad. Not only did he score one of the finest goals I have ever seen a player from the back four net in Premier League history but defensively he was outstanding. Both he and Jagielka in the earlier game put in marvellous tackles, showing tremendous bravery, as if they didn’t get the ball their dismissals would’ve been certainties.
Not only was the win a huge scalp for Steve Bruce’s side to take but the Mackems kept a clean sheet against the deadly front three of Drogba, Malouda and Anelka, a twenty four goal attack so far this season. With performances like this you can see why Michael Turner has been on the fringe of the fringes of the England squad for some time now. The former Hull City defender who was named on standby may finally get the call-up to replace the injured John Terry. Another uncapped Englishman did his claims of earning the opportunity to represent the Three Lions some good when Jordan Henderson provided an assist for the second goal. Both he and Lee Cattermole, who has had notable disciplinary problems this season, worked superbly in the centre of the park for the Wearsiders, the latter hurrying Chelsea players into mistakes.
There’s no getting away from the fact Chelsea were missing injured quartet Terry, Lampard, Benayoun and Alex, with the influential Michael Essien also unavailable through suspension. Their absence was telling. It was alarming to see Paulo Ferreira at centre half and much as I have sung the praises of Branislav Ivanovic he needs a partner with pace and experience. The Serb should’ve been sent off for a trip on Danny Welbeck late in the first half as he was the last man, but like the earlier game which contained a similar incident, referee Chris Foy brandished yellow instead of red. Carlo Ancelotti’s side created a mere brace of clear openings. First a lofted through ball into Anelka played by Mikel saw the recently returned Craig Gordon in the Mackems goal smother bravely at the Frenchman’s feet. The other chance fell to Yuri Zkirkov, who showed quick feet, but dragged his effort wide. Without Lampard the lack of cut and thurst from central midfield is so noticeable and I am getting sick and tired of mentioning it.
This Sunderland side looked worlds apart from the disgraceful performance in the Tyne-Wear Derby where they were demolished by bitter rivals Newcastle 5-1. Since then the Mackems have taken seven from a possible nine and to put that into perspective top scorer Darren Bent has been injured. It’s hard to majorly fault any of Steve Bruce’s players based on today’s performance. Their change in form seems down to the predatory instincts of Asamoah Gyan, who has impressed from a starting place, and Welbeck finding his feet on Wearside, as well as shoring things up at the back. Both players got on the scoresheet in the second half, the former slotting home coolly less than ten minutes after the break, while the latter ensured criticism for spurning earlier chances would be forgotten pouncing on an uncharacteristic mistake by Ashley Cole late on. The England left back played a horrendous back pass and Welbeck tapped the ball past the advancing Cech to put an exclamation point on this resounding victory.
Gunners Shoot Down Unlucky Toffees
Everton 1 Arsenal 2
The Gunners went second in the table with victory over David Moyes’s side and closed the gap on leaders Chelsea to two points. Goals from unlikely source Bacary Sagna and captain Cesc Fabregas were enough to take all three points from Goodison Park with Tim Cahill’s reply coming too late.
Toffees fans can feel aggrieved and should feel they could’ve got something out of the game for a number of reasons. Whilst many commentators will say Arsenal looked solid defensively this for me was not the impression made. Young Seamus Coleman was nothing short of a revelation, whether on the wing or at full back later on in the match. He showed a willingness to run at Arsenal’s defence, a tactic that other teams might do well to emulate. With just ten minutes played he practically ran and dribbled the length of the pitch, breaking from an Arsenal corner and delivered a delicious cross that Cahill ought to have buried. His endeavour and pace frightened Gael Clichy and Everton deserved a goal from such a spellbinding piece of play for one so young. The only disappointment about his performance today was when he got booked for dissent late on/
Arsene Wenger’s team rode their luck, whilst the home side seemed devoid of it. You could get odds of 66/1 for Sagna to be the first goalscorer but no Everton player closed him down in the box with ten minutes of the first half remaining and he fired into the roof of the net beating Tim Howard at the near post. This opener for the Gunners all came from a parried Samir Nasri shot and the retrieval of the rebound by Andrey Arshavin. Only good fortune on Arsenal’s part meant the sides didn’t go in level at the break. Mikel Arteta’s deep corner in first half stoppage time was headed goalwards by Louis Saha and just hit Lukasz Fabianski without crossing the line.
The second goal was vintage Arsenal. Fabregas, who had already had a sighter just minutes after the restart, finished off a move involving Marouane Chamakh, substitute Denilson and himself early in the second half. Again luck played its part however as the ball deflected through Phil Jagielka’s legs before the Gunners captain slotted home. Next came the big decision in the game which for me referee Howard Webb got wrong. Sebastien Squillaci fouled his fellow countryman Saha who was through on goal. The match official blew his whistle and gave him a booking, nullifying the advantage which would have resulted in Everton pulling one back as the ball had broken to Coleman who was one on one with Fabianski. I never advocate the ruining of any football match by brandishing a red card hastily, but it makes a nonsense of Laurent Koscielny’s sending off against Newcastle last week to not punish this similar challenge and situation with the same sanction.
David Moyes went for broke sending on Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu from the bench to go 4-3-3, sadly the gamble didn’t really pay off. The former had a good chance, buoyed by his midweek display which saw him break his Premier League duck. He took down a long ball superbly, turned and shot but found Fabianaski equal to it with a fine save. Late pressure only afforded the Toffees a consolation when with a minute of the ninety to go a short corner routine saw Stephen Pienaar cross, Saha head it back across goal and Cahill poke the ball into the net from a couple of yards out.
John Heitinga playing in the holding role seems ill-advised. It appears liable to get him sent off. Moyes subbed him at half time for the returning Jack Rodwell for the Dutchman's own good. To be successful in that position I always compare players to Claude Makelele and the less obvious example of former Czech Republic international Tomas Galasek. These were two players who were both good at breaking up the play which Heitinga did, but they also got away with fouls sufficiently for a full ninety minutes which is clearly something he won’t do on a regular basis. With Marouane Fellaini suspended and other members of the squad carrying bad injury records they can ill-afford to lose more players through this means. Jagielka and Sylvain Distin put in some tremendous tackles this afternoon and with the news of John Terry likely to miss the friendly with France the former in my eyes sits unopposed in filling the central defensive berth on Wednesday.
The Gunners went second in the table with victory over David Moyes’s side and closed the gap on leaders Chelsea to two points. Goals from unlikely source Bacary Sagna and captain Cesc Fabregas were enough to take all three points from Goodison Park with Tim Cahill’s reply coming too late.
Toffees fans can feel aggrieved and should feel they could’ve got something out of the game for a number of reasons. Whilst many commentators will say Arsenal looked solid defensively this for me was not the impression made. Young Seamus Coleman was nothing short of a revelation, whether on the wing or at full back later on in the match. He showed a willingness to run at Arsenal’s defence, a tactic that other teams might do well to emulate. With just ten minutes played he practically ran and dribbled the length of the pitch, breaking from an Arsenal corner and delivered a delicious cross that Cahill ought to have buried. His endeavour and pace frightened Gael Clichy and Everton deserved a goal from such a spellbinding piece of play for one so young. The only disappointment about his performance today was when he got booked for dissent late on/
Arsene Wenger’s team rode their luck, whilst the home side seemed devoid of it. You could get odds of 66/1 for Sagna to be the first goalscorer but no Everton player closed him down in the box with ten minutes of the first half remaining and he fired into the roof of the net beating Tim Howard at the near post. This opener for the Gunners all came from a parried Samir Nasri shot and the retrieval of the rebound by Andrey Arshavin. Only good fortune on Arsenal’s part meant the sides didn’t go in level at the break. Mikel Arteta’s deep corner in first half stoppage time was headed goalwards by Louis Saha and just hit Lukasz Fabianski without crossing the line.
The second goal was vintage Arsenal. Fabregas, who had already had a sighter just minutes after the restart, finished off a move involving Marouane Chamakh, substitute Denilson and himself early in the second half. Again luck played its part however as the ball deflected through Phil Jagielka’s legs before the Gunners captain slotted home. Next came the big decision in the game which for me referee Howard Webb got wrong. Sebastien Squillaci fouled his fellow countryman Saha who was through on goal. The match official blew his whistle and gave him a booking, nullifying the advantage which would have resulted in Everton pulling one back as the ball had broken to Coleman who was one on one with Fabianski. I never advocate the ruining of any football match by brandishing a red card hastily, but it makes a nonsense of Laurent Koscielny’s sending off against Newcastle last week to not punish this similar challenge and situation with the same sanction.
David Moyes went for broke sending on Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu from the bench to go 4-3-3, sadly the gamble didn’t really pay off. The former had a good chance, buoyed by his midweek display which saw him break his Premier League duck. He took down a long ball superbly, turned and shot but found Fabianaski equal to it with a fine save. Late pressure only afforded the Toffees a consolation when with a minute of the ninety to go a short corner routine saw Stephen Pienaar cross, Saha head it back across goal and Cahill poke the ball into the net from a couple of yards out.
John Heitinga playing in the holding role seems ill-advised. It appears liable to get him sent off. Moyes subbed him at half time for the returning Jack Rodwell for the Dutchman's own good. To be successful in that position I always compare players to Claude Makelele and the less obvious example of former Czech Republic international Tomas Galasek. These were two players who were both good at breaking up the play which Heitinga did, but they also got away with fouls sufficiently for a full ninety minutes which is clearly something he won’t do on a regular basis. With Marouane Fellaini suspended and other members of the squad carrying bad injury records they can ill-afford to lose more players through this means. Jagielka and Sylvain Distin put in some tremendous tackles this afternoon and with the news of John Terry likely to miss the friendly with France the former in my eyes sits unopposed in filling the central defensive berth on Wednesday.
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Potters Pounce on Lacklustre Liverpool
Stoke City 2 Liverpool 0
Stoke recorded their second home win of the week with their first ever victory in the Premier League over Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium. Second half goals from Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones moved Tony Pulis’s side into the top half at the expense of Roy Hodgson’s men. The visiting Merseysiders were not at the races and their performance can be summed up by the atrocious ball star striker Fernando Torres attempted after receiving the ball from substitute David Ngog which landed somewhere in the crowd. Liverpool could barely string a couple of passes together and this poor distribution was coupled with a lethargic approach to winning the second ball.
Early penalty shouts for the home side were turned down by referee Mark Halsey. From a trademark Rory Delap throw Maxi Rodriguez appeared to barge Fuller over whilst Martin Skrtel had more than an obstructive hold on Robert Huth. Whilst for me the first incident was unconvincing, I have never rated Liverpool’s Slovakian centre half. He has always struck me as a player in the mould of Nemanja Vidic: overly physical, lacking pace or composure on the ball, but good in the air. Huth himself is a big lad and with his frame doesn’t go down easily. Whilst Premier League clubs have begun to neutralise the effectiveness of Delap’s gifts, Hodgson’s side struggled with it. It was from a similar situation that Stoke took the lead with ten minutes of the second half played. The long throw caused confusion in the visiting ranks and after a pinball-like scramble, Fuller toe-poked home from a couple of yards out at the second time of asking. There’s no point in sugar coating it, it was such a scrappy goal.
The defending was far from good, the lack of closing players down and not clearing the ball are all cause for concern on Merseyside. What worries me more is the personnel. It was fine to play Jamie Carragher at full-back in the past, but he is thirty-three in a couple of months. His pace is largely gone and I’ve never seen a player so negative in his distribution from that berth in the top flight. He didn’t execute a forward pass or produce a cross that got anywhere near his teammates. Carragher only successfully passed the ball backwards or sideways, which carries its own dangers. With him and Raul Meireles on the right, there was no width. The left flank wasn’t much better. Konchesky always provides an outlet and makes positive runs to be fair, but Maxi in front of him was always going to cut inside onto his stronger foot.
Stoke started the game really brightly and were on top for most of the first half. Jones continues to pose an aerial threat, yet it was with his feet that he punished Liverpool as the match entered second half stoppage time. The Merseyside messiah Steven Gerrard gave the ball away and seconds later it was in the back of the net, Andy Wilkinson finding Jermaine Pennant who played in the Trinidadian frontman to calmly slot past Pepe Reina. He had had an earlier chance to wrap up the points, but his touch had let him down. From a long ball Jones peeled away from Skrtel, but taking it out of the air forced him wide and he dragged the shot across goal.
Lucas continues to blow hot and cold, mainly cold. His ill-discipline got him two bookings and the sending off that inevitably brings to compound Liverpool’s misery. He was yellow carded for a foul on Fuller before the hour and then sent off for a challenge on Matthew Etherington after the second goal. Speaking of the left winger the only thing tactically from Stoke that surprised me was that they didn’t really give him a chance to run at Carragher. It is curious when you consider the former West Ham player has been in good form with the assists this season. When the away side did have the ball the Potters were quick to close them down, hurrying them, but few if any players were making themselves available to receive a pass anyway. Hodgson said after the game Torres was carrying a knock on his ankle which is a real concern for a club that lacks depth in the striking department. Their performances must improve.
Stoke recorded their second home win of the week with their first ever victory in the Premier League over Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium. Second half goals from Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones moved Tony Pulis’s side into the top half at the expense of Roy Hodgson’s men. The visiting Merseysiders were not at the races and their performance can be summed up by the atrocious ball star striker Fernando Torres attempted after receiving the ball from substitute David Ngog which landed somewhere in the crowd. Liverpool could barely string a couple of passes together and this poor distribution was coupled with a lethargic approach to winning the second ball.
Early penalty shouts for the home side were turned down by referee Mark Halsey. From a trademark Rory Delap throw Maxi Rodriguez appeared to barge Fuller over whilst Martin Skrtel had more than an obstructive hold on Robert Huth. Whilst for me the first incident was unconvincing, I have never rated Liverpool’s Slovakian centre half. He has always struck me as a player in the mould of Nemanja Vidic: overly physical, lacking pace or composure on the ball, but good in the air. Huth himself is a big lad and with his frame doesn’t go down easily. Whilst Premier League clubs have begun to neutralise the effectiveness of Delap’s gifts, Hodgson’s side struggled with it. It was from a similar situation that Stoke took the lead with ten minutes of the second half played. The long throw caused confusion in the visiting ranks and after a pinball-like scramble, Fuller toe-poked home from a couple of yards out at the second time of asking. There’s no point in sugar coating it, it was such a scrappy goal.
The defending was far from good, the lack of closing players down and not clearing the ball are all cause for concern on Merseyside. What worries me more is the personnel. It was fine to play Jamie Carragher at full-back in the past, but he is thirty-three in a couple of months. His pace is largely gone and I’ve never seen a player so negative in his distribution from that berth in the top flight. He didn’t execute a forward pass or produce a cross that got anywhere near his teammates. Carragher only successfully passed the ball backwards or sideways, which carries its own dangers. With him and Raul Meireles on the right, there was no width. The left flank wasn’t much better. Konchesky always provides an outlet and makes positive runs to be fair, but Maxi in front of him was always going to cut inside onto his stronger foot.
Stoke started the game really brightly and were on top for most of the first half. Jones continues to pose an aerial threat, yet it was with his feet that he punished Liverpool as the match entered second half stoppage time. The Merseyside messiah Steven Gerrard gave the ball away and seconds later it was in the back of the net, Andy Wilkinson finding Jermaine Pennant who played in the Trinidadian frontman to calmly slot past Pepe Reina. He had had an earlier chance to wrap up the points, but his touch had let him down. From a long ball Jones peeled away from Skrtel, but taking it out of the air forced him wide and he dragged the shot across goal.
Lucas continues to blow hot and cold, mainly cold. His ill-discipline got him two bookings and the sending off that inevitably brings to compound Liverpool’s misery. He was yellow carded for a foul on Fuller before the hour and then sent off for a challenge on Matthew Etherington after the second goal. Speaking of the left winger the only thing tactically from Stoke that surprised me was that they didn’t really give him a chance to run at Carragher. It is curious when you consider the former West Ham player has been in good form with the assists this season. When the away side did have the ball the Potters were quick to close them down, hurrying them, but few if any players were making themselves available to receive a pass anyway. Hodgson said after the game Torres was carrying a knock on his ankle which is a real concern for a club that lacks depth in the striking department. Their performances must improve.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Honours Even in Drab Derby Draw
Man City 0 Man Utd 0
Like so many big matches the Manchester derby at Eastlands failed to live up to the hype after ending goalless. The game was typified by over-cautious play and a lack of creativity on the part of both sides. The campaigners for more home grown players will cite the lack of local lads being involved, resulting in an encounter that only had intermittent moments of passion between bitter rivals and neighbours in the northwest metropolis, but in actual fact it had more to do with formations.
Both Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson put five across midfield, leaving the game congested in the middle of the park. Worse still Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov received next to no support from the central midfielders behind them, leaving them drifting out of position to receive the ball. The personnel employed were not the sort that would gamble on joining in final third attacks. Try as he might to drive at the United defence, Yaya Toure had never been so far forward and the fact he afforded no end product shows it is not his game. What a stark contrast to the last time he lined up against the Red Devils when he played centre half for Barcelona in the Champions League final last year!
The match could perhaps have panned out differently if, with just ninety seconds on the clock, Tevez had taken a shot at Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal after working an opening. His decision not to pull the trigger seemed to be an apt harbinger of what was to come. Five minutes later James Milner with little space to work in on the right wing still managed to whip in a delicious cross but no Sky Blues teammate would gamble to get on the end of it. This too was indicative of what followed. Both teams seemed genuinely afraid of losing this crucial encounter and with the 4-5-1 formation simply cancelled one another out.
What few shots did come in, a mere thirteen in total, were either wildly inaccurate or mostly comfortable saves for Van Der Sar and Joe Hart. The best chance fell to Tevez again, this time from a free kick with ten minutes left in the first half. The forty-year old United stopper had to be at full stretch to deny his former teammate who curled the ball superbly over the wall but could not beat the Dutchman. Both Rafael da Silva and Patrice Evra limped off for the Red Devils with injuries after the break. Both sides enjoyed lengthy spells in possession but didn’t seem to have the creativity to create a clear cut chance. For the neutral it was a really disappointing encounter.
For fans of either Manchester club it was thoroughly frustrating. With five minutes remaining City fans wanted a more clinical, attacking player in their star-studded squad than Pablo Zabaleta to be on the ball in the final third. It was the Argentine utility man though who cut inside from the right and alas he blazed over. By perhaps giving too much respect to one another the real winners were Chelsea, who increased their lead at the top to four points with a 1-0 win in their own derby with Fulham while the stalemate at Eastlands was played out. The Sky Blues for me need either to introduce a more attacking minded player in the centre of midfield or change formation to 4-4-2 and put Adebayor up front alongside Tevez. As for United they will have to make changes as Paul Scholes’s booking for persistent fouling was his fifth in the league and that means suspension.
Like so many big matches the Manchester derby at Eastlands failed to live up to the hype after ending goalless. The game was typified by over-cautious play and a lack of creativity on the part of both sides. The campaigners for more home grown players will cite the lack of local lads being involved, resulting in an encounter that only had intermittent moments of passion between bitter rivals and neighbours in the northwest metropolis, but in actual fact it had more to do with formations.
Both Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson put five across midfield, leaving the game congested in the middle of the park. Worse still Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov received next to no support from the central midfielders behind them, leaving them drifting out of position to receive the ball. The personnel employed were not the sort that would gamble on joining in final third attacks. Try as he might to drive at the United defence, Yaya Toure had never been so far forward and the fact he afforded no end product shows it is not his game. What a stark contrast to the last time he lined up against the Red Devils when he played centre half for Barcelona in the Champions League final last year!
The match could perhaps have panned out differently if, with just ninety seconds on the clock, Tevez had taken a shot at Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal after working an opening. His decision not to pull the trigger seemed to be an apt harbinger of what was to come. Five minutes later James Milner with little space to work in on the right wing still managed to whip in a delicious cross but no Sky Blues teammate would gamble to get on the end of it. This too was indicative of what followed. Both teams seemed genuinely afraid of losing this crucial encounter and with the 4-5-1 formation simply cancelled one another out.
What few shots did come in, a mere thirteen in total, were either wildly inaccurate or mostly comfortable saves for Van Der Sar and Joe Hart. The best chance fell to Tevez again, this time from a free kick with ten minutes left in the first half. The forty-year old United stopper had to be at full stretch to deny his former teammate who curled the ball superbly over the wall but could not beat the Dutchman. Both Rafael da Silva and Patrice Evra limped off for the Red Devils with injuries after the break. Both sides enjoyed lengthy spells in possession but didn’t seem to have the creativity to create a clear cut chance. For the neutral it was a really disappointing encounter.
For fans of either Manchester club it was thoroughly frustrating. With five minutes remaining City fans wanted a more clinical, attacking player in their star-studded squad than Pablo Zabaleta to be on the ball in the final third. It was the Argentine utility man though who cut inside from the right and alas he blazed over. By perhaps giving too much respect to one another the real winners were Chelsea, who increased their lead at the top to four points with a 1-0 win in their own derby with Fulham while the stalemate at Eastlands was played out. The Sky Blues for me need either to introduce a more attacking minded player in the centre of midfield or change formation to 4-4-2 and put Adebayor up front alongside Tevez. As for United they will have to make changes as Paul Scholes’s booking for persistent fouling was his fifth in the league and that means suspension.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Potters Edge Late Blooming Thriller
Stoke 3 Birmingham 2
Tony Pulis’s side stopped the rot after four straight Premier League defeats with a midweek victory over Alex McLeish’s blues at the Britannia Stadium. The sides swapped places in the table after an enthralling final quarter of the match that saw Birmingham come from two goals down to draw level in a little over two minutes. Dean Whitehead grabbed an eighty-fifth minute winner for the home side though, making Keith Fahey’s chest and volley from just inside the area and Cameron Jerome’s headed equaliser count for nothing. This was after Stoke had gone in with a half time lead thanks to Robert Huth and Ricardo Fuller’s wonderful finish cutting in from the right on the counter around the seventy minute mark.
The opening forty-five was totally forgettable and scrappy to say the least. Were it not for the ball breaking to the German centre half to blast in after Whitehead passed to Fuller who put the ball through a crowded penalty area, then it could have been summed up by a failed free kick routine from the home side. Stoke were certainly on top of a match that was difficult viewing, but it got better after the break. The game finally burst into life with twenty minutes remaining with a Birmingham attack that saw Jerome’s cross turned onto the post by the desperate stretch of a Potters defender with subsequent shots from Nikola Zigic and Stephen Carr blocked last ditch. Immediately on the counter the home side raced down the right from where Fuller cut inside with the blues defence swarming around him and curled an unstoppable, clinical effort beyond the outstanding Ben Foster. The Birmingham keeper had made a string of saves before, but they were all ones you would expect an England international to make.
Three minutes later blues substitute Keith Fahey scored an equally impressive goal to pull one back for the visitors. Good work came down the right from Sebastian Larsson saw the ball eventually fall to him and with superb technique put the ball beyond Asmir Begovic. Stoke panicked and Birmingham drew level less than two minutes after again Larsson got down the right and whipped in a perfect cross for Jerome to head home. Potters centre half Danny Higginbotham struggled aerially tonight and must taken responsibility here for the equaliser. With five minutes of the ninety remaining Matthew Etherington’s cross deflected through Scott Dann’s legs and Dean Whitehead netted his first goal for the Potters to give them all three points.
The goalkeepers remained on top for most of the first hour. Craig Gardner drew fine saves from Begovic from distance and has shown an eye for goal this season finally getting first-team football. At the other end Foster showed immense bravery with Higginbotham in on goal and got to the ball first with fantastic reactions. Stoke could also have made it easier had a Kenwyne Jones’s header had been on target inside the opening ten minutes from a Jermaine Pennant cross. The blues will feel bitterly disappointed after coming back from two goals down to draw level for the second game in four days, only this time to see their endeavour result in no reward. Stoke fans can hopefully now forget about bad refereeing decisions as their team certainly had some good luck, particularly with Whitehead’s winner, this evening.
Tony Pulis’s side stopped the rot after four straight Premier League defeats with a midweek victory over Alex McLeish’s blues at the Britannia Stadium. The sides swapped places in the table after an enthralling final quarter of the match that saw Birmingham come from two goals down to draw level in a little over two minutes. Dean Whitehead grabbed an eighty-fifth minute winner for the home side though, making Keith Fahey’s chest and volley from just inside the area and Cameron Jerome’s headed equaliser count for nothing. This was after Stoke had gone in with a half time lead thanks to Robert Huth and Ricardo Fuller’s wonderful finish cutting in from the right on the counter around the seventy minute mark.
The opening forty-five was totally forgettable and scrappy to say the least. Were it not for the ball breaking to the German centre half to blast in after Whitehead passed to Fuller who put the ball through a crowded penalty area, then it could have been summed up by a failed free kick routine from the home side. Stoke were certainly on top of a match that was difficult viewing, but it got better after the break. The game finally burst into life with twenty minutes remaining with a Birmingham attack that saw Jerome’s cross turned onto the post by the desperate stretch of a Potters defender with subsequent shots from Nikola Zigic and Stephen Carr blocked last ditch. Immediately on the counter the home side raced down the right from where Fuller cut inside with the blues defence swarming around him and curled an unstoppable, clinical effort beyond the outstanding Ben Foster. The Birmingham keeper had made a string of saves before, but they were all ones you would expect an England international to make.
Three minutes later blues substitute Keith Fahey scored an equally impressive goal to pull one back for the visitors. Good work came down the right from Sebastian Larsson saw the ball eventually fall to him and with superb technique put the ball beyond Asmir Begovic. Stoke panicked and Birmingham drew level less than two minutes after again Larsson got down the right and whipped in a perfect cross for Jerome to head home. Potters centre half Danny Higginbotham struggled aerially tonight and must taken responsibility here for the equaliser. With five minutes of the ninety remaining Matthew Etherington’s cross deflected through Scott Dann’s legs and Dean Whitehead netted his first goal for the Potters to give them all three points.
The goalkeepers remained on top for most of the first hour. Craig Gardner drew fine saves from Begovic from distance and has shown an eye for goal this season finally getting first-team football. At the other end Foster showed immense bravery with Higginbotham in on goal and got to the ball first with fantastic reactions. Stoke could also have made it easier had a Kenwyne Jones’s header had been on target inside the opening ten minutes from a Jermaine Pennant cross. The blues will feel bitterly disappointed after coming back from two goals down to draw level for the second game in four days, only this time to see their endeavour result in no reward. Stoke fans can hopefully now forget about bad refereeing decisions as their team certainly had some good luck, particularly with Whitehead’s winner, this evening.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Toon Take Spoils from Misfiring Gunners
Arsenal 0 Newcastle United 1
The Magpies moved up to a place behind their opponents after a third straight win in the top flight this afternoon at the Emirates. An away victory avenged the Carling Cup exit to Arsene Wenger’s side eleven days ago up in the northeast. Andy Carroll’s header at the end of the first half in front of watching England boss Fabio Capello was enough to take the three points back to St. James’ Park.
Arsenal struggled to get going with the visitors coming out of the traps better. Bacary Sagna looked particularly shaky as both Shola Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez got the best of him early on, the latter claiming a penalty should’ve been awarded after a tangle of legs. Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas could only rattle the bar from a free kick after Fabricio Coloccini’s foul on Jack Wilshere. The long-time target of boyhood club Barcelona would also have a hand in the only other real chance the home side created during the opening forty-five. With five minutes of the first half remaining the Spaniard squared for Samir Nasri, otherwise ineffective, whose side-footed effort was superbly saved by the strong palm of Tim Krul in the Toon goal.
With the final ball lacking quality from the Gunners, Cheick Tiote worked extremely hard in the centre of the park for Newcastle, man-marking Fabregas with considerable success at times. On the stroke of half time the away side saw some reward for their determination to keep Wenger’s side at bay. Joey Barton whipped in a free kick, Lukasz Fabianski came a long way and failed to get there in front of Carroll who headed into the empty net. It was an error of judgment by the Polish stopper and it cost Arsenal dear. Early in the second half Theo Walcott raced in from the right, receiving Wilshere’s through ball but saw his effort come back off the woodwork from a tight angle. Moments later a last ditch intervention by Danny Simpson prevented Marouane Chamakh from tapping home Alex Song’s pullback.
Arsenal’s keeper dealt with the aerial threat posed by the Toon better in the second half. Their fortunes up front did not change however. Not even an hour had been played when Wenger called Arshavin and the returning Van Persie to replace the largely lacklustre Nasri and Chamakh. With just less than a quarter of the match remaining Nicklas Bendtner was introduced but these substitutions did not change matters. Having stifled the home side’s creativity successfully the Magpies rarely attacked after the break, happy to sit on their goal lead. In the final moments Arsenal’s misery was compounded when they finished the game with ten men. Substitute Nile Ranger got goal side of Laurent Koscielny late on and the Frenchmen hauled him down with a run on goal ahead from the right wing. Mike Dean did not hesitate to brandish red, the former Lorient centre half’s second dismissal since his summer move to the Emirates.
It is seldom that Arsenal create so little at home and fans will make the point that Newcastle’s keeper was time wasting for much of the second half, but the plaudits have to go back up the A1 along with the points. Either side of elimination from the Carling Cup, Chris Hughton’s side have taken a maximum nine in the league. Under his stewardship they have put six past Villa, demolished their bitter rivals and taken a giant scalp this afternoon. What more does he have to do to earn a new contract from the owners? How many managers would have the confidence and belief in his players not to sit back, put five across midfield and try to nick a draw from a match against Arsenal? The Magpies played football, coupled with hard work and remarkable fitness and thoroughly earned their win. Sure the Gunners had an off-day but the Toon are riding high and sit in a Champions League place with other results to come in.
What can Fabio Capello take from today’s match with the friendly against France just around the corner? He witnessed personally what Andy Carroll is all about on the pitch, superb in the air and a good team player. It will not have escaped the Italian’s notice that Jack Wilshere likes a tackle or two, but can also play a perceptive ball. Both to me in their respective roles seem to be the future of our national side. They do of course still have some developing to go through before either is the finished article. The difference today was largely summed up by set pieces. Newcastle won it from such a situation and Arsenal still don’t look very threatening at all from them. With Chamakh in the side they really ought to be more so, but they had three different players trying to deliver good corners in the first half from the right all equally ineffective.
The Magpies moved up to a place behind their opponents after a third straight win in the top flight this afternoon at the Emirates. An away victory avenged the Carling Cup exit to Arsene Wenger’s side eleven days ago up in the northeast. Andy Carroll’s header at the end of the first half in front of watching England boss Fabio Capello was enough to take the three points back to St. James’ Park.
Arsenal struggled to get going with the visitors coming out of the traps better. Bacary Sagna looked particularly shaky as both Shola Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez got the best of him early on, the latter claiming a penalty should’ve been awarded after a tangle of legs. Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas could only rattle the bar from a free kick after Fabricio Coloccini’s foul on Jack Wilshere. The long-time target of boyhood club Barcelona would also have a hand in the only other real chance the home side created during the opening forty-five. With five minutes of the first half remaining the Spaniard squared for Samir Nasri, otherwise ineffective, whose side-footed effort was superbly saved by the strong palm of Tim Krul in the Toon goal.
With the final ball lacking quality from the Gunners, Cheick Tiote worked extremely hard in the centre of the park for Newcastle, man-marking Fabregas with considerable success at times. On the stroke of half time the away side saw some reward for their determination to keep Wenger’s side at bay. Joey Barton whipped in a free kick, Lukasz Fabianski came a long way and failed to get there in front of Carroll who headed into the empty net. It was an error of judgment by the Polish stopper and it cost Arsenal dear. Early in the second half Theo Walcott raced in from the right, receiving Wilshere’s through ball but saw his effort come back off the woodwork from a tight angle. Moments later a last ditch intervention by Danny Simpson prevented Marouane Chamakh from tapping home Alex Song’s pullback.
Arsenal’s keeper dealt with the aerial threat posed by the Toon better in the second half. Their fortunes up front did not change however. Not even an hour had been played when Wenger called Arshavin and the returning Van Persie to replace the largely lacklustre Nasri and Chamakh. With just less than a quarter of the match remaining Nicklas Bendtner was introduced but these substitutions did not change matters. Having stifled the home side’s creativity successfully the Magpies rarely attacked after the break, happy to sit on their goal lead. In the final moments Arsenal’s misery was compounded when they finished the game with ten men. Substitute Nile Ranger got goal side of Laurent Koscielny late on and the Frenchmen hauled him down with a run on goal ahead from the right wing. Mike Dean did not hesitate to brandish red, the former Lorient centre half’s second dismissal since his summer move to the Emirates.
It is seldom that Arsenal create so little at home and fans will make the point that Newcastle’s keeper was time wasting for much of the second half, but the plaudits have to go back up the A1 along with the points. Either side of elimination from the Carling Cup, Chris Hughton’s side have taken a maximum nine in the league. Under his stewardship they have put six past Villa, demolished their bitter rivals and taken a giant scalp this afternoon. What more does he have to do to earn a new contract from the owners? How many managers would have the confidence and belief in his players not to sit back, put five across midfield and try to nick a draw from a match against Arsenal? The Magpies played football, coupled with hard work and remarkable fitness and thoroughly earned their win. Sure the Gunners had an off-day but the Toon are riding high and sit in a Champions League place with other results to come in.
What can Fabio Capello take from today’s match with the friendly against France just around the corner? He witnessed personally what Andy Carroll is all about on the pitch, superb in the air and a good team player. It will not have escaped the Italian’s notice that Jack Wilshere likes a tackle or two, but can also play a perceptive ball. Both to me in their respective roles seem to be the future of our national side. They do of course still have some developing to go through before either is the finished article. The difference today was largely summed up by set pieces. Newcastle won it from such a situation and Arsenal still don’t look very threatening at all from them. With Chamakh in the side they really ought to be more so, but they had three different players trying to deliver good corners in the first half from the right all equally ineffective.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Chelsea Cruise Past McGeady's Moscow
Chelsea 4 Spartak Moscow 1
Stamford Bridge will host knockout Champions League football in 2011 after the home side breezed past their Russian opponents with a magnificent second half display which guarantees Carl Ancelotti’s side a top place finish in Group F. A brace from centre half Branislav Ivanovic added to Nicolas Anelka’s opener and Didier Drogba’s penalty to send Chelsea through as group winners in some style. Spartak did pull one back through substitute Nikita Bazhenov, but this was a consolation they did not deserve. Valery Karpin’s team in both fixtures gave the defending Premier League champions too much respect and were reluctant to run at their opponents' defence.
Big money summer signing Aiden McGeady was little more than a spectator, so ineffective the former Celtic winger was. Dmitri Kombarov was willing to do what his teammates were not and have a go, shooting from range but Petr Cech was equal to his efforts. Despite an assist for the first goal Salomon Kalou continues to be profligate in front of goal, fluffing a catalogue of chances and Chelsea fans will be screaming for some consistency from the Ivorian. Credit should go to Andrei Ivanov who put in some marvellous last ditch tackles on him, but he should’ve worked the keeper at the very least when through on goal in the sort of positions he found himself in tonight. I always feel there is more to come from Kalou and the longer he takes to live up to his potential the less likely he is to achieve it; nothing wrong with his delicate through ball for Anelka, who timed his run to perfection, less than five minutes after the restart though.
You have to question the Spartak keeper Andriy Dikan’s positioning mind, as you should never be beaten at the near post from that angle. The Frenchman looked effective cutting in from the left and was unlucky with a curling effort in the first half that just dipped wide. The Russian outfit’s centre halves had a torrid time against the talismanic Drogba. Nicolas Pareja seems to be on the fringes of the Argentina setup by default because he barely put a foot right this evening and was lucky not to be booked early on for a ridiculously high boot and a challenge that was arguably worse than some of those the Turkish referee deemed worthy of a card.
He showed no awareness of how to handle the big Ivorian and it came as no surprise when his inability to tackle led to a clumsy challenge on the striker from Yevgeni Makeev inside the box. Drogba dusted himself down and slammed the ball home from twelve yards. Our Argentine friend was to blame for the third goal the Russians conceded. Pareja was supposed to be marking Ivanovic from a Drogba free kick but the Serbian got well clear of him and a player as good in the air as him headed into the net to take Chelsea out of sight. The contest now won Ancelotti withdrew his big guns up front and their replacements, particularly Danny Sturridge looked bright.
Two-goal hero Ivanovic was at fault for Chelsea conceding and ending a run of close to sixteen hours at home without letting a goal in. The Russian Premier League’s top scorer Welliton got the better of him, then played a one-two with young Aleksandr Kozlov before his dragged shot fell into the path of Bazhenov who tapped the ball in from a few yards. This took the shine off the win for me because the visitors offered so little as an attacking force.
The Serbian added his second in stoppage time near the end after Sturridge’s cross broke to him and he placed the ball beyond Dikan. Again the marking was poor, but it was something of a scramble. The continuing theme in the absence of Lampard and Benayoun is a lack of willingness to support the attack from midfield. Ramires, recently returned from a short spell on the sidelines, looks uncertain whether or not the onus falls on him to do this job.
Stamford Bridge will host knockout Champions League football in 2011 after the home side breezed past their Russian opponents with a magnificent second half display which guarantees Carl Ancelotti’s side a top place finish in Group F. A brace from centre half Branislav Ivanovic added to Nicolas Anelka’s opener and Didier Drogba’s penalty to send Chelsea through as group winners in some style. Spartak did pull one back through substitute Nikita Bazhenov, but this was a consolation they did not deserve. Valery Karpin’s team in both fixtures gave the defending Premier League champions too much respect and were reluctant to run at their opponents' defence.
Big money summer signing Aiden McGeady was little more than a spectator, so ineffective the former Celtic winger was. Dmitri Kombarov was willing to do what his teammates were not and have a go, shooting from range but Petr Cech was equal to his efforts. Despite an assist for the first goal Salomon Kalou continues to be profligate in front of goal, fluffing a catalogue of chances and Chelsea fans will be screaming for some consistency from the Ivorian. Credit should go to Andrei Ivanov who put in some marvellous last ditch tackles on him, but he should’ve worked the keeper at the very least when through on goal in the sort of positions he found himself in tonight. I always feel there is more to come from Kalou and the longer he takes to live up to his potential the less likely he is to achieve it; nothing wrong with his delicate through ball for Anelka, who timed his run to perfection, less than five minutes after the restart though.
You have to question the Spartak keeper Andriy Dikan’s positioning mind, as you should never be beaten at the near post from that angle. The Frenchman looked effective cutting in from the left and was unlucky with a curling effort in the first half that just dipped wide. The Russian outfit’s centre halves had a torrid time against the talismanic Drogba. Nicolas Pareja seems to be on the fringes of the Argentina setup by default because he barely put a foot right this evening and was lucky not to be booked early on for a ridiculously high boot and a challenge that was arguably worse than some of those the Turkish referee deemed worthy of a card.
He showed no awareness of how to handle the big Ivorian and it came as no surprise when his inability to tackle led to a clumsy challenge on the striker from Yevgeni Makeev inside the box. Drogba dusted himself down and slammed the ball home from twelve yards. Our Argentine friend was to blame for the third goal the Russians conceded. Pareja was supposed to be marking Ivanovic from a Drogba free kick but the Serbian got well clear of him and a player as good in the air as him headed into the net to take Chelsea out of sight. The contest now won Ancelotti withdrew his big guns up front and their replacements, particularly Danny Sturridge looked bright.
Two-goal hero Ivanovic was at fault for Chelsea conceding and ending a run of close to sixteen hours at home without letting a goal in. The Russian Premier League’s top scorer Welliton got the better of him, then played a one-two with young Aleksandr Kozlov before his dragged shot fell into the path of Bazhenov who tapped the ball in from a few yards. This took the shine off the win for me because the visitors offered so little as an attacking force.
The Serbian added his second in stoppage time near the end after Sturridge’s cross broke to him and he placed the ball beyond Dikan. Again the marking was poor, but it was something of a scramble. The continuing theme in the absence of Lampard and Benayoun is a lack of willingness to support the attack from midfield. Ramires, recently returned from a short spell on the sidelines, looks uncertain whether or not the onus falls on him to do this job.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Bale's Vengeance, Maicon's Disgrace
Tottenham Hotspur 3 Inter Milan 1
Spurs avenged their 4-3 defeat in the San Siro to go top of Champions League Group A with a 3-1 win over the current European champions Inter Milan. Who else but Gareth Bale inspired this famous victory providing two assists. The young Welsh star absolutely tore Brazilian right back Maicon apart for the second game in succession, not renowned for showing any defensive ability whatsoever at the best of times. Inter’s back four, with an average age of more than thirty, could not handle his blistering pace and willingness to run in behind. The hat trick he scored, albeit in vain, in the reverse fixture was obviously not a clear enough warning for Rafa Benitez's men.
Turning out these outstanding performances on the biggest stage of club football have rightly earned Bale tons of admiration and as I predicted the gossip columns have become full of rumours that Europe’s top clubs are interested in him. Yet while one full back-cum-winger's praises are being sung another is having to take the blame. Maicon, capped 62 times by his country, has been thoroughly outclassed and embarrassed by a younger and faster player, but what is most satisfying for old fashioned full backs everywhere is he has been found out. It is all well and good attacking down the flanks from this position, as the Brazilian has made a career out of doing, but if you haven’t got the ability to defend or at least get back to help out your teammates then you run the risk of being labelled a liability.
He is in essence a one-trick pony. A player who has his uses but they, as tonight’s evidence shows, have limits. Can you remember the last time Maicon put in a tackle? To be fair to him he is very good at what he does, but this criticism is long overdue. It was only a matter of time before an opposing team stole the ball off him, played good counter-attacking football and thoroughly punished his desire to go forward. The one dimensional aspect of his play seems at least to have been noticed by new national coach Mario Menezes who has omitted the Inter player from his selections.
Naturally Brazil have not turned their back on aggressive forward-thinking full backs altogether though as Barcelona’s Dani Alves, a similar type of player, has kept his spot in the squad and effectively taken Maicon’s place in the side. Going back to Bale, it is the quality of his deliveries that have improved so much over the last eighteen months and clearly being fully fit with few niggling injury problems have also been beneficial. He made it so easy for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko who just had to tap their second half goals in. At the moment he is unplayable
Inter were not at full strength tonight, but nonetheless they will be disappointed to see their excellent defensive record in the Champions League in 2010 be damaged by tonight’s defeat. The other real revelation for Spurs has been Rafael Van Der Vaart. Playing as the most advanced of the midfield behind Crouch, a tactic Harry Redknapp has often employed since his deadline day move from Real Madrid, he won the battle with Dutch national teammate Wesley Sneijder to impress in this role. His opener around the twenty minute mark, the eighth he’s netted since moving to London, was well taken but he owes a lot to the endeavour of Luka Modric. A perfectly weighted through ball and a well-timed run were Milan’s initial undoing before Bale turned on the burners.
The final word has to go to the top scorer of Europe’s premier club competition though. Samuel Eto’o, though only a consolation for Inter on the night, scored his seventh Champions League goal in four matches ten minutes from time. This is some return, but what is even more impressive is that he now stands more than three quarters of the way to the twenty goal mark already when the Italian season only began on August 21st. He has sixteen from a baker’s dozen of matches. The Cameroonian has certainly profited from the injury that has kept Diego Milito out of Rafael Benitez’s side and has without doubt relished a return to playing through the middle.
Spurs avenged their 4-3 defeat in the San Siro to go top of Champions League Group A with a 3-1 win over the current European champions Inter Milan. Who else but Gareth Bale inspired this famous victory providing two assists. The young Welsh star absolutely tore Brazilian right back Maicon apart for the second game in succession, not renowned for showing any defensive ability whatsoever at the best of times. Inter’s back four, with an average age of more than thirty, could not handle his blistering pace and willingness to run in behind. The hat trick he scored, albeit in vain, in the reverse fixture was obviously not a clear enough warning for Rafa Benitez's men.
Turning out these outstanding performances on the biggest stage of club football have rightly earned Bale tons of admiration and as I predicted the gossip columns have become full of rumours that Europe’s top clubs are interested in him. Yet while one full back-cum-winger's praises are being sung another is having to take the blame. Maicon, capped 62 times by his country, has been thoroughly outclassed and embarrassed by a younger and faster player, but what is most satisfying for old fashioned full backs everywhere is he has been found out. It is all well and good attacking down the flanks from this position, as the Brazilian has made a career out of doing, but if you haven’t got the ability to defend or at least get back to help out your teammates then you run the risk of being labelled a liability.
He is in essence a one-trick pony. A player who has his uses but they, as tonight’s evidence shows, have limits. Can you remember the last time Maicon put in a tackle? To be fair to him he is very good at what he does, but this criticism is long overdue. It was only a matter of time before an opposing team stole the ball off him, played good counter-attacking football and thoroughly punished his desire to go forward. The one dimensional aspect of his play seems at least to have been noticed by new national coach Mario Menezes who has omitted the Inter player from his selections.
Naturally Brazil have not turned their back on aggressive forward-thinking full backs altogether though as Barcelona’s Dani Alves, a similar type of player, has kept his spot in the squad and effectively taken Maicon’s place in the side. Going back to Bale, it is the quality of his deliveries that have improved so much over the last eighteen months and clearly being fully fit with few niggling injury problems have also been beneficial. He made it so easy for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko who just had to tap their second half goals in. At the moment he is unplayable
Inter were not at full strength tonight, but nonetheless they will be disappointed to see their excellent defensive record in the Champions League in 2010 be damaged by tonight’s defeat. The other real revelation for Spurs has been Rafael Van Der Vaart. Playing as the most advanced of the midfield behind Crouch, a tactic Harry Redknapp has often employed since his deadline day move from Real Madrid, he won the battle with Dutch national teammate Wesley Sneijder to impress in this role. His opener around the twenty minute mark, the eighth he’s netted since moving to London, was well taken but he owes a lot to the endeavour of Luka Modric. A perfectly weighted through ball and a well-timed run were Milan’s initial undoing before Bale turned on the burners.
The final word has to go to the top scorer of Europe’s premier club competition though. Samuel Eto’o, though only a consolation for Inter on the night, scored his seventh Champions League goal in four matches ten minutes from time. This is some return, but what is even more impressive is that he now stands more than three quarters of the way to the twenty goal mark already when the Italian season only began on August 21st. He has sixteen from a baker’s dozen of matches. The Cameroonian has certainly profited from the injury that has kept Diego Milito out of Rafael Benitez’s side and has without doubt relished a return to playing through the middle.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Derby Day Demolition
Newcastle 5 Sunderland 1
Chris Hughton’s side inflicted the heaviest defeat on their neighbours since the 1950s at St. James’ Park this afternoon in an annihilation of the Mackems in the one hundred and thirty first Tyne-Wear Derby. The visitors came into the game unbeaten in seven league matches but signs of that form were completely absent at the home of their archrivals. Skipper Kevin Nolan scored a Halloween hat-trick and Shola Ameobi bagged a brace. With Sunderland not at the races Darren Bent’s late consolation was hardly deserved and precious few visiting supporters saw it.
This match had everything great about derby games in it: passion, flying tackles and a controversial decision. Newcastle’s pressure told with the half hour approaching when a Joey Barton corner was headed on and Nolan improvised with an overhead kick that put the ball beyond young Belgian stopper Simon Mignolet. A few minutes later the Magpies captain doubled his tally after Andy Carroll’s centre reached him and he slotted it in the far corner. Special mention should go to Ameobi who took the Sunderland defender out of the equation. Steve Bruce responded with a tactical substitution, matching Newcastle’s 4-4-2 formation. Off the back of his World Cup heroics for Ghana, the Ballon d’Or nominated forward Asamoah Gyan entered to partner Bent, but this would prove to be of no effect as the Mackems found themselves a third down by half time. With seconds to go before the whistle Nedum Onuoha had a coming together with Jonas Gutierrez, leaving referee Phil Dowd with no option to point to the spot. Ameobi smashed the ball in from twelve yards.
Early in the second half it was effectively game over for Sunderland when former Newcastle player Titus Bramble was dismissed for a foul on Carroll. For me he was not necessarily the last man, particularly when the run made by Newcastle’s number nine on goal was on the diagonal. The official must be certain no other player could get to the attacker. Although Michael Turner isn’t the quickest it was still possible. Dowd showed no hesitation in deciding to send Bramble off and coupled with a further six bookings, the Mackems can expect a fine from the Premier League for their lack of discipline. Two of these tallow cards were especially stupid, first was Phil Bardsley’s for a needless challenge on Fabricio Coloccini when the ball was harmlessly going out for a goal kick. The second was substitute John Mensah who received it for dissent when he might well have been punished in the same way for an earlier foul.
With twenty minutes remaining Ameobi got his second. Carroll himself was desperately unlucky not to score after heading Danny Simpson’s cross against the bar. His strike partner was there to net the rebound on the half volley. Nolan ensured he took home the match ball fifteen minutes from time after another Barton corner was flicked on to him to head home. Bent’s consolation in stoppage time came from a similar situation, the Newcastle defence having left him unmarked in the box. Bruce will demand a reaction from his players after such a heavy and hurtful defeat, whilst it seems the Toon players just love playing for manager Chris Hughton. The captain dedicated the win to him in a post-match interview and with the midweek disappointment of being dumped out of the Carling Cup by Arsenal now dispelled it seems baffling why some bookmakers have suspended the market on Hughton being the next top flight manager to get the sack.
Andy Carroll continues to press his claims for a place in the England squad. Without actually putting the ball in the net he did everything right, bringing his teammates into play, being aerially commanding, causing no end of problems for the Mackems defence. No other tall forward in the Premier League is playing anything like him at the minute and he can be ignored no longer. The question mark over his off-the-field conduct does remain, but now that he is being mentored by Nolan he might have a role model on which to base himself and emulate. Speaking of the Newcastle skipper, if former teammate at Bolton Kevin Davies can get into Fabio Capello’s plans, even as a last resort, then why not select the in-form midfielder? He has scored twice as many goals as Steven Gerrard this season so far and the upcoming friendly fixture against a French side under Laurent Blanc that is experimenting, the pair are both worth taking a look at and on form deserve to be capped.
Chris Hughton’s side inflicted the heaviest defeat on their neighbours since the 1950s at St. James’ Park this afternoon in an annihilation of the Mackems in the one hundred and thirty first Tyne-Wear Derby. The visitors came into the game unbeaten in seven league matches but signs of that form were completely absent at the home of their archrivals. Skipper Kevin Nolan scored a Halloween hat-trick and Shola Ameobi bagged a brace. With Sunderland not at the races Darren Bent’s late consolation was hardly deserved and precious few visiting supporters saw it.
This match had everything great about derby games in it: passion, flying tackles and a controversial decision. Newcastle’s pressure told with the half hour approaching when a Joey Barton corner was headed on and Nolan improvised with an overhead kick that put the ball beyond young Belgian stopper Simon Mignolet. A few minutes later the Magpies captain doubled his tally after Andy Carroll’s centre reached him and he slotted it in the far corner. Special mention should go to Ameobi who took the Sunderland defender out of the equation. Steve Bruce responded with a tactical substitution, matching Newcastle’s 4-4-2 formation. Off the back of his World Cup heroics for Ghana, the Ballon d’Or nominated forward Asamoah Gyan entered to partner Bent, but this would prove to be of no effect as the Mackems found themselves a third down by half time. With seconds to go before the whistle Nedum Onuoha had a coming together with Jonas Gutierrez, leaving referee Phil Dowd with no option to point to the spot. Ameobi smashed the ball in from twelve yards.
Early in the second half it was effectively game over for Sunderland when former Newcastle player Titus Bramble was dismissed for a foul on Carroll. For me he was not necessarily the last man, particularly when the run made by Newcastle’s number nine on goal was on the diagonal. The official must be certain no other player could get to the attacker. Although Michael Turner isn’t the quickest it was still possible. Dowd showed no hesitation in deciding to send Bramble off and coupled with a further six bookings, the Mackems can expect a fine from the Premier League for their lack of discipline. Two of these tallow cards were especially stupid, first was Phil Bardsley’s for a needless challenge on Fabricio Coloccini when the ball was harmlessly going out for a goal kick. The second was substitute John Mensah who received it for dissent when he might well have been punished in the same way for an earlier foul.
With twenty minutes remaining Ameobi got his second. Carroll himself was desperately unlucky not to score after heading Danny Simpson’s cross against the bar. His strike partner was there to net the rebound on the half volley. Nolan ensured he took home the match ball fifteen minutes from time after another Barton corner was flicked on to him to head home. Bent’s consolation in stoppage time came from a similar situation, the Newcastle defence having left him unmarked in the box. Bruce will demand a reaction from his players after such a heavy and hurtful defeat, whilst it seems the Toon players just love playing for manager Chris Hughton. The captain dedicated the win to him in a post-match interview and with the midweek disappointment of being dumped out of the Carling Cup by Arsenal now dispelled it seems baffling why some bookmakers have suspended the market on Hughton being the next top flight manager to get the sack.
Andy Carroll continues to press his claims for a place in the England squad. Without actually putting the ball in the net he did everything right, bringing his teammates into play, being aerially commanding, causing no end of problems for the Mackems defence. No other tall forward in the Premier League is playing anything like him at the minute and he can be ignored no longer. The question mark over his off-the-field conduct does remain, but now that he is being mentored by Nolan he might have a role model on which to base himself and emulate. Speaking of the Newcastle skipper, if former teammate at Bolton Kevin Davies can get into Fabio Capello’s plans, even as a last resort, then why not select the in-form midfielder? He has scored twice as many goals as Steven Gerrard this season so far and the upcoming friendly fixture against a French side under Laurent Blanc that is experimenting, the pair are both worth taking a look at and on form deserve to be capped.
Monday, 25 October 2010
Luck and Leeds Errors Hand Cardiff Route to Top
Leeds United 0 Cardiff City 4
You look at the only statistic that matters, the full time result, and think that Cardiff dominated Leeds at Elland Road this evening. And you’d be wrong. The Bluebirds victory was one earned through a combination of good fortune, poor United defending and City playing impressive football on the break. The 4-0 away win for Dave Jones’s side put them level on points with Championship pacesetters QPR, but that score line somewhat flattered them.
The twenty-second minute opener was an aberration, created out of nothing more than a long ball up the field not dealt with by Alex Bruce, his father watching from the stands. Once he let it bounce the centre half had played returning keeper Kasper Schmeichel into all sorts of trouble and the in-form Jay Bothroyd simply had to tap in amongst the chaos in the Leeds backline. Cardiff’s luck did not stop there however. Ten minutes later the Bluebirds number nine could well have been dismissed for an atrocious challenge to Luciano Becchio, had the referee’s view not been obscured by another Leeds player. Full credit must go to the Lilywhites target man for his professionalism as he could have quite easily stayed down rolling around on the floor, instead he chose to get back to his feet and the incident remains at the time of writing unpunished.
Within seven minutes of the restart the Bluebirds went two up through Michael Chopra but he was offside when the ball was played to him, another thing which escaped the notice of the officials. Schmeichel got a hand to his shot and should probably feel he could’ve done better, but it was an attempted save he would not have needed to make were it not for this further slice of luck. No excuses can be made about Bothroyd’s second goal four minutes later. Neill Collins should know better than to get sucked to the ball leaving such a dangerous striker unmarked. Lee Naylor completed the scoring with a twenty-five yarder that caught Schmeichel out, but no team should ever stand off an opposing player on the edge of the box, even if it was only his thirteenth ever league goal, averaging one strike a season for every year of the former Wolves and Celtic full back’s career.
Craig Bellamy, playing from the left, as you would expect of a Premier League class footballer only plying his trade at a lower level because Manchester City were not prepared to loan him to top flight rivals, was a real handful. He created all sorts of problems for Paul Connolly and the Leeds right back could not keep up with him. Leeds however had their own threat from that flank in Bradley Johnson who has performed both well and consistently this season so far. A shame then that his teammates did not gamble to get on the end of some inviting balls he whipped into the box. Cardiff did well to smother Davide Somma out of the game and keeping him quite is a real advert for doing your homework. With their top scorer marked out of the game the Lilywhites never really stretched young Tom Heaton in the Bluebirds goal. All the saves he made were routine.
Simon Grayson needs a response from his side after this embarrassing and unlucky display. The absence of Richard Naylor stuck out like a saw thumb and the sooner he and long-term injury casualty Patrick Kisnorbo can get back to first team action the better for Leeds’ shaky defence. It did not help matters tonight that there was also no out and out striker on the bench to replace Somma and/or Becchio. The Honduran Ramon Nunez looked to have something about him when he came off the bench. Despite the result there are positives for Lilywhites fans to take from the game. As for Cardiff they must win promotion at the third time of asking else there can be no argument that Dave Jones has failed. The big wages and unpaid stadium bills without promotion cannot go on forever.
You look at the only statistic that matters, the full time result, and think that Cardiff dominated Leeds at Elland Road this evening. And you’d be wrong. The Bluebirds victory was one earned through a combination of good fortune, poor United defending and City playing impressive football on the break. The 4-0 away win for Dave Jones’s side put them level on points with Championship pacesetters QPR, but that score line somewhat flattered them.
The twenty-second minute opener was an aberration, created out of nothing more than a long ball up the field not dealt with by Alex Bruce, his father watching from the stands. Once he let it bounce the centre half had played returning keeper Kasper Schmeichel into all sorts of trouble and the in-form Jay Bothroyd simply had to tap in amongst the chaos in the Leeds backline. Cardiff’s luck did not stop there however. Ten minutes later the Bluebirds number nine could well have been dismissed for an atrocious challenge to Luciano Becchio, had the referee’s view not been obscured by another Leeds player. Full credit must go to the Lilywhites target man for his professionalism as he could have quite easily stayed down rolling around on the floor, instead he chose to get back to his feet and the incident remains at the time of writing unpunished.
Within seven minutes of the restart the Bluebirds went two up through Michael Chopra but he was offside when the ball was played to him, another thing which escaped the notice of the officials. Schmeichel got a hand to his shot and should probably feel he could’ve done better, but it was an attempted save he would not have needed to make were it not for this further slice of luck. No excuses can be made about Bothroyd’s second goal four minutes later. Neill Collins should know better than to get sucked to the ball leaving such a dangerous striker unmarked. Lee Naylor completed the scoring with a twenty-five yarder that caught Schmeichel out, but no team should ever stand off an opposing player on the edge of the box, even if it was only his thirteenth ever league goal, averaging one strike a season for every year of the former Wolves and Celtic full back’s career.
Craig Bellamy, playing from the left, as you would expect of a Premier League class footballer only plying his trade at a lower level because Manchester City were not prepared to loan him to top flight rivals, was a real handful. He created all sorts of problems for Paul Connolly and the Leeds right back could not keep up with him. Leeds however had their own threat from that flank in Bradley Johnson who has performed both well and consistently this season so far. A shame then that his teammates did not gamble to get on the end of some inviting balls he whipped into the box. Cardiff did well to smother Davide Somma out of the game and keeping him quite is a real advert for doing your homework. With their top scorer marked out of the game the Lilywhites never really stretched young Tom Heaton in the Bluebirds goal. All the saves he made were routine.
Simon Grayson needs a response from his side after this embarrassing and unlucky display. The absence of Richard Naylor stuck out like a saw thumb and the sooner he and long-term injury casualty Patrick Kisnorbo can get back to first team action the better for Leeds’ shaky defence. It did not help matters tonight that there was also no out and out striker on the bench to replace Somma and/or Becchio. The Honduran Ramon Nunez looked to have something about him when he came off the bench. Despite the result there are positives for Lilywhites fans to take from the game. As for Cardiff they must win promotion at the third time of asking else there can be no argument that Dave Jones has failed. The big wages and unpaid stadium bills without promotion cannot go on forever.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Blunted Blades Beaten by Donny
Doncaster Rovers 2 Sheffield United 0
You would not have believed Sheffield United were a Premier League club three seasons ago based on tonight’s performance. To the casual observer Sean O’Driscoll’s side looked more the part, despite having only been back in the Football League for just seven years. Doncaster’s 2-0 win at the Keapmoat was their first over the Blades in the league since 1983. Two first half goals from James Coppinger and Billy Sharp secured the points for the home side which takes them into the top half of the Championship table.
Full marks should go to the home side for sticking to their passing philosophy and just after the half hour came the breakthrough. Coppinger played a one-two with former Sheffield United striker Sharp and then finished with aplomb on a diagonal run into the box from the right flank. There was virtually no response from Gary Speed’s team and they found themselves two goals down at the break when outstanding work down the left by young full back Joseph Mills, on loan at the Keepmoat from Southampton, gave him time to cut the ball back to James Hayter. His shot was parried right into the path of Sharp to tap home by Blades keeper Steve Simonsen who ought to be disappointed his palm didn’t clear the United penalty area.
The real story for me though is the concern that the Bramall Lane faithful should have. Tonight was one of the worst performances on television seen by the steel city club in recent times. It was Gary Speed’s tenth game as a manager and that showed, especially since his counterpart has more than a decade’s experience in the dugout. Daniel Bogdanovic was so poor the Maltese international couldn’t even flick a throw in on from one of his team mates. Much like when his fellow countryman Michael Mifsud played for Coventry City, he has had one good season at Barnsley before earning a move to United. To all intents and purposes last season’s tally at Oakwell which reached double figures looks very much like a fluke. You hardly noticed the six foot two striker whose inclusion forced the thirty-three year old Richard Cresswell bafflingly onto the left wing. Bogdanovic was absent from the game and when the ball came anywhere near him he didn’t put a foot right. Someone of his height should be far better in the air than he looked this evening.
Tactically Speed has not got things right. Cresswell does not have the pace to play wide at his age and when he did move into the centre after Bogdanovic was rightly subbed early in the second half he looked more effective. Substitute Jamie Ward was a much better bet in a wide berth than the former Preston and Leeds striker. The centre of the Blades midfield offered no support to the forwards. Leon Britton was not on song with his passing. Two things, however, are most worrying of all; firstly United are missing Darius Henderson terribly, but they couldn’t even get their long ball game right. What concerns me most though is the lack of any strength or depth to Speed’s squad. It is a shadow of the team that played in the Premier League and even the season after their relegation back to the Championship. So average and thin are the Blades’ ranks that two youngsters from the academy Matthew Lowton and Jordan Slew came off the bench to feature in the second half.
Doncaster were good value for the three points but Sheffield United put up nothing in response. Both full backs caught the eye, Mills with his assist and Mustapha Dumbuya for his tireless effort to run up and down the right. This was the second match I have seen Donny play this season and he really has made the right back spot his own. Coppinger and Oster also looked a threat cutting in from wide areas and Sharp profited from the uneasiness and lack of pace in Blades centre halves Chris Morgan and Nyron Nosworthy. O’Driscoll could not have hoped for a better response to the midweek home defeat to resurgent Derby.
You would not have believed Sheffield United were a Premier League club three seasons ago based on tonight’s performance. To the casual observer Sean O’Driscoll’s side looked more the part, despite having only been back in the Football League for just seven years. Doncaster’s 2-0 win at the Keapmoat was their first over the Blades in the league since 1983. Two first half goals from James Coppinger and Billy Sharp secured the points for the home side which takes them into the top half of the Championship table.
Full marks should go to the home side for sticking to their passing philosophy and just after the half hour came the breakthrough. Coppinger played a one-two with former Sheffield United striker Sharp and then finished with aplomb on a diagonal run into the box from the right flank. There was virtually no response from Gary Speed’s team and they found themselves two goals down at the break when outstanding work down the left by young full back Joseph Mills, on loan at the Keepmoat from Southampton, gave him time to cut the ball back to James Hayter. His shot was parried right into the path of Sharp to tap home by Blades keeper Steve Simonsen who ought to be disappointed his palm didn’t clear the United penalty area.
The real story for me though is the concern that the Bramall Lane faithful should have. Tonight was one of the worst performances on television seen by the steel city club in recent times. It was Gary Speed’s tenth game as a manager and that showed, especially since his counterpart has more than a decade’s experience in the dugout. Daniel Bogdanovic was so poor the Maltese international couldn’t even flick a throw in on from one of his team mates. Much like when his fellow countryman Michael Mifsud played for Coventry City, he has had one good season at Barnsley before earning a move to United. To all intents and purposes last season’s tally at Oakwell which reached double figures looks very much like a fluke. You hardly noticed the six foot two striker whose inclusion forced the thirty-three year old Richard Cresswell bafflingly onto the left wing. Bogdanovic was absent from the game and when the ball came anywhere near him he didn’t put a foot right. Someone of his height should be far better in the air than he looked this evening.
Tactically Speed has not got things right. Cresswell does not have the pace to play wide at his age and when he did move into the centre after Bogdanovic was rightly subbed early in the second half he looked more effective. Substitute Jamie Ward was a much better bet in a wide berth than the former Preston and Leeds striker. The centre of the Blades midfield offered no support to the forwards. Leon Britton was not on song with his passing. Two things, however, are most worrying of all; firstly United are missing Darius Henderson terribly, but they couldn’t even get their long ball game right. What concerns me most though is the lack of any strength or depth to Speed’s squad. It is a shadow of the team that played in the Premier League and even the season after their relegation back to the Championship. So average and thin are the Blades’ ranks that two youngsters from the academy Matthew Lowton and Jordan Slew came off the bench to feature in the second half.
Doncaster were good value for the three points but Sheffield United put up nothing in response. Both full backs caught the eye, Mills with his assist and Mustapha Dumbuya for his tireless effort to run up and down the right. This was the second match I have seen Donny play this season and he really has made the right back spot his own. Coppinger and Oster also looked a threat cutting in from wide areas and Sharp profited from the uneasiness and lack of pace in Blades centre halves Chris Morgan and Nyron Nosworthy. O’Driscoll could not have hoped for a better response to the midweek home defeat to resurgent Derby.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Benitez Bests Bale's Bravado
Inter Milan 4 Tottenham Hotspur 3
Despite his players’ disastrous first half display, Harry Redknapp can be proud of Tottenham tonight who restored some respectability to the score line in the second forty-five pulling three goals back. Gareth Bale’s hat trick turned a demolition at the hands of the reigning European champions into a narrow defeat. The match as a spectacle was pretty much ruined by the dismissal of the Londoners’ keeper Heurelho Gomes after seven minutes for a foul on young French winger Jonathan Bianiaby, resulting in a successful spot kick from Samuel Eto’o that saw Inter 2-0 up with little more than ten minutes played.
The evergreen Javier Zanetti, captain of the Nerazzurri, took the opening goal superbly. With just sixty-eight seconds on the clock, the thirty-seven year old Argentine finished superbly from an Eto’o through ball putting it past Gomes. What remarkable confidence for a player who last found the net in February 2008! This early goal shocked the Spurs players and this was compounded by the sending off and converted penalty. Poor defending by the ten men was subsequently punished. An error by William Gallas was pounced upon by Serbian national captain Dejan Stankovic who placed the ball beyond substitute stopper Carlo Cudicini; this at the end of a thirty-four pass move and not even a quarter of an hour gone.
Poor positioning by Sebastien Bassong allowed Philippe Coutinho to play in Eto’o o to add his second of the night to the scoresheet. Redknapp was faced with what must have been one of the most difficult half time team talks of his long managerial career. At least his swashbuckling left back turned left winger responded with another outstanding performance that for me has firmly put the Welshman in the shop window for Europe’s top clubs. Inter eased off a little after the break, convinced the job was done. Bale had other ideas, but ultimately it was too little too late to deny Rafael Benitez’s side three points. The gossip columns links to the continent’s elite sides may now carry something with regards to the former Southampton player.
I have said before the fixtures against the current holders of the Champions League will not make or break Tottenham’s own European campaign. Despite being a man down tonight, they acquitted themselves well and the goal difference has not taken a massive hit. Redknapp’s men still sit second in Group A and a home win against Bremen and an away victory in Holland against FC Twente will almost certainly be enough to see them progress to the knockout stages at the first time of asking. One thing’s for certain the ride Spurs are taking us on is full of excitement!
Despite his players’ disastrous first half display, Harry Redknapp can be proud of Tottenham tonight who restored some respectability to the score line in the second forty-five pulling three goals back. Gareth Bale’s hat trick turned a demolition at the hands of the reigning European champions into a narrow defeat. The match as a spectacle was pretty much ruined by the dismissal of the Londoners’ keeper Heurelho Gomes after seven minutes for a foul on young French winger Jonathan Bianiaby, resulting in a successful spot kick from Samuel Eto’o that saw Inter 2-0 up with little more than ten minutes played.
The evergreen Javier Zanetti, captain of the Nerazzurri, took the opening goal superbly. With just sixty-eight seconds on the clock, the thirty-seven year old Argentine finished superbly from an Eto’o through ball putting it past Gomes. What remarkable confidence for a player who last found the net in February 2008! This early goal shocked the Spurs players and this was compounded by the sending off and converted penalty. Poor defending by the ten men was subsequently punished. An error by William Gallas was pounced upon by Serbian national captain Dejan Stankovic who placed the ball beyond substitute stopper Carlo Cudicini; this at the end of a thirty-four pass move and not even a quarter of an hour gone.
Poor positioning by Sebastien Bassong allowed Philippe Coutinho to play in Eto’o o to add his second of the night to the scoresheet. Redknapp was faced with what must have been one of the most difficult half time team talks of his long managerial career. At least his swashbuckling left back turned left winger responded with another outstanding performance that for me has firmly put the Welshman in the shop window for Europe’s top clubs. Inter eased off a little after the break, convinced the job was done. Bale had other ideas, but ultimately it was too little too late to deny Rafael Benitez’s side three points. The gossip columns links to the continent’s elite sides may now carry something with regards to the former Southampton player.
I have said before the fixtures against the current holders of the Champions League will not make or break Tottenham’s own European campaign. Despite being a man down tonight, they acquitted themselves well and the goal difference has not taken a massive hit. Redknapp’s men still sit second in Group A and a home win against Bremen and an away victory in Holland against FC Twente will almost certainly be enough to see them progress to the knockout stages at the first time of asking. One thing’s for certain the ride Spurs are taking us on is full of excitement!
Saturday, 16 October 2010
One Point Gained or Two Points Dropped?
Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0
A goalless draw with Aston Villa calls into question just how much strength in depth do Chelsea have? For this evening’s trip to the West Midlands Carlo Ancelotti could not call on the services of injured quartet Alex, Yossi Benayoun, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard, with the Premier League’s joint leading scorer Didier Drogba also unavailable due to illness. This is hardly an ‘injury crisis’ in comparison with the Blues’ London rivals Arsenal who before the international break had an entire XI missing, but in the absence of the big names in particular Chelsea could not find a way past Gerard Houllier’s men. It could of course have been a different story altogether if Branislav Ivanovic’s connection to a Florent Malouda corner and/or Nicolas Anelka’s downward header from Ashley Cole’s cross had not both come back off the woodwork. The margins between a defeat, draw and victory are defined by moments such as these and young Ciaran Clark could have inflicted defeat on the visit, if his deft touch to Ashley Young’s free kick hadn’t similarly hit the post. These three second half chances were as clear cut as Stephen Ireland’s dragged shot which flashed across the face of Petr Cech’s goal in the first three minutes of the match after good work from the tireless Stewart Downing.
Perhaps a draw was a fair result when you consider both sides had two great chances apiece. Villa must get the credit for frustrating Chelsea, but in essence both these teams suffered from the same problem. Neither had enough thrust from central midfield today, leaving those leading the line, Anelka and John Carew respectively, isolated and inevitably drifting wide in search of the ball. Drogba and Lampard would be a miss for any side, but without the two most prominent attacking parts of their spine, the Blues lacked a cutting edge. Ramires and Michael Essien did not do enough to support Anelka and exactly the same can be said of Ireland with Carew. Chelsea have been tough to break down this season, but you can’t win silverware if nobody gambles to push up towards the centre forward.
Aston Villa were not without missing players either. Luke Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey missed the match with injuries and the impressive Marc Albrighton was unwell. Richard Dunne lasted little more than ten minutes before coming off with an ankle injury which in total means that the West Midlands outfit had the same number of first team regulars out as their opponents from the capital. There is a flip side to missing big names and that is it provides a chance for fringe players or youngsters to stake a claim to play in the XI. Dunne’s replacement Ciaran Clark had an eventual game, his performance solid rather than excellent. Gael Kakuta started on the right for Chelsea but his effectiveness was questionable. Teenager Josh McEachran came off the bench again for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. It is encouraging to see an English youth product in their matchday squad, particularly in the absence of Daniel Sturridge who was not in the eighteen.
Both sides will be happy with a clean sheet, but you can’t escape the feeling that Chelsea will be the least happy with a point. Today they could have gone seven points clear of both Manchester sides and fellow Londoners Arsenal and Spurs, as it is they are only five. United will be particularly relieved as they let a two goal home lead slip against West Brom, who finally seem to be getting some reward for getting the ball down and playing football in the top flight.
A goalless draw with Aston Villa calls into question just how much strength in depth do Chelsea have? For this evening’s trip to the West Midlands Carlo Ancelotti could not call on the services of injured quartet Alex, Yossi Benayoun, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard, with the Premier League’s joint leading scorer Didier Drogba also unavailable due to illness. This is hardly an ‘injury crisis’ in comparison with the Blues’ London rivals Arsenal who before the international break had an entire XI missing, but in the absence of the big names in particular Chelsea could not find a way past Gerard Houllier’s men. It could of course have been a different story altogether if Branislav Ivanovic’s connection to a Florent Malouda corner and/or Nicolas Anelka’s downward header from Ashley Cole’s cross had not both come back off the woodwork. The margins between a defeat, draw and victory are defined by moments such as these and young Ciaran Clark could have inflicted defeat on the visit, if his deft touch to Ashley Young’s free kick hadn’t similarly hit the post. These three second half chances were as clear cut as Stephen Ireland’s dragged shot which flashed across the face of Petr Cech’s goal in the first three minutes of the match after good work from the tireless Stewart Downing.
Perhaps a draw was a fair result when you consider both sides had two great chances apiece. Villa must get the credit for frustrating Chelsea, but in essence both these teams suffered from the same problem. Neither had enough thrust from central midfield today, leaving those leading the line, Anelka and John Carew respectively, isolated and inevitably drifting wide in search of the ball. Drogba and Lampard would be a miss for any side, but without the two most prominent attacking parts of their spine, the Blues lacked a cutting edge. Ramires and Michael Essien did not do enough to support Anelka and exactly the same can be said of Ireland with Carew. Chelsea have been tough to break down this season, but you can’t win silverware if nobody gambles to push up towards the centre forward.
Aston Villa were not without missing players either. Luke Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey missed the match with injuries and the impressive Marc Albrighton was unwell. Richard Dunne lasted little more than ten minutes before coming off with an ankle injury which in total means that the West Midlands outfit had the same number of first team regulars out as their opponents from the capital. There is a flip side to missing big names and that is it provides a chance for fringe players or youngsters to stake a claim to play in the XI. Dunne’s replacement Ciaran Clark had an eventual game, his performance solid rather than excellent. Gael Kakuta started on the right for Chelsea but his effectiveness was questionable. Teenager Josh McEachran came off the bench again for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. It is encouraging to see an English youth product in their matchday squad, particularly in the absence of Daniel Sturridge who was not in the eighteen.
Both sides will be happy with a clean sheet, but you can’t escape the feeling that Chelsea will be the least happy with a point. Today they could have gone seven points clear of both Manchester sides and fellow Londoners Arsenal and Spurs, as it is they are only five. United will be particularly relieved as they let a two goal home lead slip against West Brom, who finally seem to be getting some reward for getting the ball down and playing football in the top flight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)