1. Howard Webb might just be a homer.
Over the past couple of years Howard Webb has often been criticised for being Man Utd’s “12th man.” Whilst it’s true that any sort of contact in the box tends to result in a penalty at Old Trafford, not to mention the fact that Nemanja Vidic would presumably have to shoot someone to get sent off, it’s also now apparent that these woeful indiscretions always occurred at home. What’s also apparent is that wherever he goes, Howard Webb seems incapable of not giving the lion share of decisions to the team playing on their own turf. In 4 games already this season Webb has made huge, home favouring calls in his matches. This Saturday was no different as Webb brandished out yellow cards whenever Everton players breathed on their expensive, delicate counterparts. The point represented most strikingly when Tim Cahill was given a somewhat mystifying yellow card for Vincent Kompany stamping on him. Webb is an accomplished international ref and it looks increasingly clear that the reason he struggles more in the Prem is being unable to find a neutral middle ground. If it in doubt, the decision will always go with the home team. Yorkshires finest could do with manning up a little bit...
Over the past couple of years Howard Webb has often been criticised for being Man Utd’s “12th man.” Whilst it’s true that any sort of contact in the box tends to result in a penalty at Old Trafford, not to mention the fact that Nemanja Vidic would presumably have to shoot someone to get sent off, it’s also now apparent that these woeful indiscretions always occurred at home. What’s also apparent is that wherever he goes, Howard Webb seems incapable of not giving the lion share of decisions to the team playing on their own turf. In 4 games already this season Webb has made huge, home favouring calls in his matches. This Saturday was no different as Webb brandished out yellow cards whenever Everton players breathed on their expensive, delicate counterparts. The point represented most strikingly when Tim Cahill was given a somewhat mystifying yellow card for Vincent Kompany stamping on him. Webb is an accomplished international ref and it looks increasingly clear that the reason he struggles more in the Prem is being unable to find a neutral middle ground. If it in doubt, the decision will always go with the home team. Yorkshires finest could do with manning up a little bit...
2. Rooney remains key to Utd’s challenge.
With Dimitar Berbatov devoid of confidence and Michael Owen starved of the service he craves, Utd looked toothless on Saturday without their talisman and most creative force. Hernadez and Welbeck are both fine and promising players, but they all need one man to make them shine and that man was sat at home watching a Beyonce concert and tweeting. Ferguson’s refusal to buy a Sneijder like player hasn’t really been noticed so far and, contrary to some commentators , that hasn’t been justified by the fine start made to the season by Anderson and Cleverly. The point has been moot because Rooney has been playing in the hole in a fluent 4-2-3-1 formation. To say it’s been successful would be an understatement. Rooney has been man of the match in every game he’s played for Utd so far and his movement, passing and finishing have been of the highest calibre. Without him, Utd have a problem because Nani is too selfish (although he can thankfully score the odd wonder goal) and Young too static. 4-4-2 is now a dated system, especially away from home and Utd were easily kept at bay by Stoke. Unless Ferguson is confident that Rooney can play 50 games this year, a small rethink may be required.
With Dimitar Berbatov devoid of confidence and Michael Owen starved of the service he craves, Utd looked toothless on Saturday without their talisman and most creative force. Hernadez and Welbeck are both fine and promising players, but they all need one man to make them shine and that man was sat at home watching a Beyonce concert and tweeting. Ferguson’s refusal to buy a Sneijder like player hasn’t really been noticed so far and, contrary to some commentators , that hasn’t been justified by the fine start made to the season by Anderson and Cleverly. The point has been moot because Rooney has been playing in the hole in a fluent 4-2-3-1 formation. To say it’s been successful would be an understatement. Rooney has been man of the match in every game he’s played for Utd so far and his movement, passing and finishing have been of the highest calibre. Without him, Utd have a problem because Nani is too selfish (although he can thankfully score the odd wonder goal) and Young too static. 4-4-2 is now a dated system, especially away from home and Utd were easily kept at bay by Stoke. Unless Ferguson is confident that Rooney can play 50 games this year, a small rethink may be required.
3. QPR can consider themselves hard done by.
Eventually salvaging a point in comedic circumstances, QPR were much the better team for all but around 5 minutes of yesterdays match up with Aston Villa. They were behind owing to an invisible penalty and then had two more valid appeals of their own turned down by a ref who was seemingly trying to redress the balance caused by Howard Webb. Slick in midfield and solid at the back, QPR are however in desperate need for a striker who isn’t from the Championship school of thinking. They should still stay up however, especially given they can reinforce again in January. As for Villa, they are fast becoming an even more boring team than Birmingham, if such a thing is possible. Toothless without Darren Bent they also seem to have unearthed a player, in Charles NZogbia, who makes David Ginola look like he put a shift in. McCleish still has work to do.
4. Kenny is going to have to make hard decisions for Liverpool to succeed.Eventually salvaging a point in comedic circumstances, QPR were much the better team for all but around 5 minutes of yesterdays match up with Aston Villa. They were behind owing to an invisible penalty and then had two more valid appeals of their own turned down by a ref who was seemingly trying to redress the balance caused by Howard Webb. Slick in midfield and solid at the back, QPR are however in desperate need for a striker who isn’t from the Championship school of thinking. They should still stay up however, especially given they can reinforce again in January. As for Villa, they are fast becoming an even more boring team than Birmingham, if such a thing is possible. Toothless without Darren Bent they also seem to have unearthed a player, in Charles NZogbia, who makes David Ginola look like he put a shift in. McCleish still has work to do.
6 months out or not, Steven Gerrard is far too good a player not to be in Liverpool’s first XI for next weekend’s Merseyside derby. So far Kenny’s selections have been a mixed bag, refusing to regularly accommodate Dirk Kuyt, play Carroll one minute and drop him the next and sticking to a midfield four that is far from firing on all cylinders. When Pool look good they look very good and that’s mainly due to the form of Luiz Suarez, who was again oddly taken off on Saturday with the match still finely poised. Can you imagine Ferguson or Wenger taking off Rooney and Van Persie with 20 minutes left and the game 2-1? Kenny either needs to master the art of rotation or choose his first XI and stick with it for 4 or 5 games. At this stage, it’s unclear whether he knows what the latter is and Gerrard’s return has made his decision all the more harder.
5. Relegation will be another large scale scrap this year.
Whilst still early days, I’ve seen enough so far of every team to convince me that, on any given day, pretty much anybody in this league could win, draw or lose. Even taking the big 3 clubs as read, it’s still no clearer beneath that if anyone is capable of putting together an unbeaten run of 10 or 12 games to really make a charge up the table. Four teams remain unbeaten and if Newcastle have been good value for their points, the same certainly can’t be said for Aston Vila who have drawn all but one of their games in an often coma inducing fashion. Of the relegation contenders only QPR look like they should be safe, but you can add West Brom, Blackburn, Wigan, Fulham & Bolton to the teams alongside Norwich and Swansea who look like they could be in serious trouble. Indeed, if you add Wolves and QPR to that list you’re already talking about half the table that could conceivably find themselves in a relegation scrap. Still, it all keeps it exciting doesn’t it... and if a couple of big boys find themselves down there in March... all the better.