1. Everton have to hang their heads.
Yes they have no money and can’t really buy more than one player a year, and it’s also true that few premier league managers get more out of their players than David Moyes... but there remains no excuse for looking like people who have forgotten how to play the game at the start of each season. Everton’s famously poor opening fixture form now extends to almost a decade. In three of the last four years they have been a top 4 team for the second half of the season. Surely, surely a change in how their pre-season operates is in order? Without the excuse of having to integrate new players, the buck must stop with Moyes – who gives the impression of turning up with his team the day before the big kick off and saying “welcome back.” Next up are Blackburn, who thus far look truly pathetic. My advice to you gamblers on the list, wade in big on Blackburn... because they’ll win.
2. Norwich were robbed.
Norwich have every right to feel hard done by after opening fixtures brought them just 2 points which could so easily have been 6. Full of width and running, they outplayed a sluggish looking Stoke team for over an hour yesterday before a refereeing decision that truly defined “criminal.” I don’t like slating refs, I prefer to slate whining managers and short sighted pundits, but the decision to send of Leon Barnett and give a penalty for a “tackle” that was two yards outside the box and was never a foul in a million years... well, let’s just say if managers could sue refs it would have been settled out of court 30 seconds after the final whistle. A horrific decision, it enabled Stoke to push on and eventually claim an equaliser despite missing the undeserved penalty. Even more horrific was the sight of Tony “please section” Pulis post match claiming “our second half performance deserved to win the game.” No it didn’t Tony... your performance after the undeserved red card undeservedly deserved to win the game. Just so we’ve cleared that up...
3. Arsenal are in real trouble.
I won’t labour this point given every major newspaper has covered it in ludicrous depth this past week, but there’s no denying that Arsenal... and more crucially Wenger... have ran out of excuses. Dreadful for the vast majority of their three games so far, they’ve managed just one goal in that time and look shorn of creative inspiration, defensive soundness and... yep, here it is again... leadership. It is that that last word which by now must by the most galling for any supporter. Arsenal have no leaders, no belief in their ability, no necessary new signings, no cover for their injuries... and are about to enter a week where they play Udinese and Man Utd away. If they lose both, they’re out of the champions league and bottom of the table. Ok so it’s a fledging season, but when you consider that their form since the Carling Cup defeat would see them sitting in 15th – it is not unfair to say this is currently as poor as Arsenal have ever been under Wenger. Of course, such is the fickle nature of football, that if they win both and actually sign some players who aren’t young, attacking midfielders... all will be forgotten. But Arsenal fans have every reason to be extremely worried right now.
Norwich have every right to feel hard done by after opening fixtures brought them just 2 points which could so easily have been 6. Full of width and running, they outplayed a sluggish looking Stoke team for over an hour yesterday before a refereeing decision that truly defined “criminal.” I don’t like slating refs, I prefer to slate whining managers and short sighted pundits, but the decision to send of Leon Barnett and give a penalty for a “tackle” that was two yards outside the box and was never a foul in a million years... well, let’s just say if managers could sue refs it would have been settled out of court 30 seconds after the final whistle. A horrific decision, it enabled Stoke to push on and eventually claim an equaliser despite missing the undeserved penalty. Even more horrific was the sight of Tony “please section” Pulis post match claiming “our second half performance deserved to win the game.” No it didn’t Tony... your performance after the undeserved red card undeservedly deserved to win the game. Just so we’ve cleared that up...
3. Arsenal are in real trouble.
I won’t labour this point given every major newspaper has covered it in ludicrous depth this past week, but there’s no denying that Arsenal... and more crucially Wenger... have ran out of excuses. Dreadful for the vast majority of their three games so far, they’ve managed just one goal in that time and look shorn of creative inspiration, defensive soundness and... yep, here it is again... leadership. It is that that last word which by now must by the most galling for any supporter. Arsenal have no leaders, no belief in their ability, no necessary new signings, no cover for their injuries... and are about to enter a week where they play Udinese and Man Utd away. If they lose both, they’re out of the champions league and bottom of the table. Ok so it’s a fledging season, but when you consider that their form since the Carling Cup defeat would see them sitting in 15th – it is not unfair to say this is currently as poor as Arsenal have ever been under Wenger. Of course, such is the fickle nature of football, that if they win both and actually sign some players who aren’t young, attacking midfielders... all will be forgotten. But Arsenal fans have every reason to be extremely worried right now.
4. Lucas Neil. Football’s moral compass.
If footballers have taught me one thing over the years, it’s that they certainly aren’t influenced by money. Thank heavens then, for Lucas Neil... a man whose continued career choices fly in the face of any desire to actually play football simply for the glory of winning things. Beginning his career at Milwall, Neil had established himself as a solid, if unspectacular defender. When Blackburn Rovers inquired about him in the pre-season of 2001, it took Neil a full 24 hours to submit a transfer request from the team who had given him his chance in English football. Initially a success at Blackburn, Neil stayed relatively loyal for 5 years before watching other teams paying more cash for their stars than Blackburn could. When his new contract offer wasn’t good enough, Neil again submitted a transfer request and said he would be leaving as a free agent so he could benefit from a signing on fee and command better wages. Inexplicably, he then turned down an offer from Liverpool (who had just won the Champions League) to get more money playing for West... fucking... Ham. From here, he again saw out his contract and hopped briefly from Everton (where he was paid a signing on bonus) and then to Galatasary (where he was, again, paid a signing on bonus). It should come as little surprise then, that despite still being good enough to play top flight football, Neil has just moved to Al Jazira. Who you ask? Well they play in the UAE league. And guess what? They have lots and lots of money.
If footballers have taught me one thing over the years, it’s that they certainly aren’t influenced by money. Thank heavens then, for Lucas Neil... a man whose continued career choices fly in the face of any desire to actually play football simply for the glory of winning things. Beginning his career at Milwall, Neil had established himself as a solid, if unspectacular defender. When Blackburn Rovers inquired about him in the pre-season of 2001, it took Neil a full 24 hours to submit a transfer request from the team who had given him his chance in English football. Initially a success at Blackburn, Neil stayed relatively loyal for 5 years before watching other teams paying more cash for their stars than Blackburn could. When his new contract offer wasn’t good enough, Neil again submitted a transfer request and said he would be leaving as a free agent so he could benefit from a signing on fee and command better wages. Inexplicably, he then turned down an offer from Liverpool (who had just won the Champions League) to get more money playing for West... fucking... Ham. From here, he again saw out his contract and hopped briefly from Everton (where he was paid a signing on bonus) and then to Galatasary (where he was, again, paid a signing on bonus). It should come as little surprise then, that despite still being good enough to play top flight football, Neil has just moved to Al Jazira. Who you ask? Well they play in the UAE league. And guess what? They have lots and lots of money.
(Lucas Neil has never won a trophy)
5. Raul Meireles is far too good to be on a bench.
King Kenny has done ok so far, in that he hasn’t managed to beat a Sunderland team who contrived to lose at home to Newcastle; and just about triumphed over an Arsenal team that are currently footballs equivalent of an horrifically wounded sheep... but taking that as it is, the continued decision to not start with Raul Meireles smacks a little of stubbornness and a lot like stupidity. With two good feet, a range of passing and an eye for goal... Meireles is good enough to start for any team in the Premiership. It is ridiculous then, that Jordan Henderson is keeping him out of Liverpool’s first team. Indeed, playing a midfield of Henderson, Lucas, Adam and Downing... Kenny has managed to field not a single player who is actually better than the one he has warming the bench. He came off it at least on Saturday, where he did more in 15 minutes than Henderson had done in 75 and set up the winning goal in the process. Clearly the Carroll/Downing/Adam long ball axis needs time to gel – but until it does, surely starting with the quick passing and movement of Suarez, Kuyt and Meireles makes far, far more sense. Still, what do I care, I don’t want them to win owt anyway...
King Kenny has done ok so far, in that he hasn’t managed to beat a Sunderland team who contrived to lose at home to Newcastle; and just about triumphed over an Arsenal team that are currently footballs equivalent of an horrifically wounded sheep... but taking that as it is, the continued decision to not start with Raul Meireles smacks a little of stubbornness and a lot like stupidity. With two good feet, a range of passing and an eye for goal... Meireles is good enough to start for any team in the Premiership. It is ridiculous then, that Jordan Henderson is keeping him out of Liverpool’s first team. Indeed, playing a midfield of Henderson, Lucas, Adam and Downing... Kenny has managed to field not a single player who is actually better than the one he has warming the bench. He came off it at least on Saturday, where he did more in 15 minutes than Henderson had done in 75 and set up the winning goal in the process. Clearly the Carroll/Downing/Adam long ball axis needs time to gel – but until it does, surely starting with the quick passing and movement of Suarez, Kuyt and Meireles makes far, far more sense. Still, what do I care, I don’t want them to win owt anyway...
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