1. United have no defence. Literally.
All freakish results have to be considered in context and, as week 9 of the new season came to a close, this result will eventually mean very little if Utd lift the title come May. The more worrying thing for Utd fans isn’t a one off freakish scoreline, but that City have been looking better than them in virtually every league game so far. Defensively, a shambles of this magnitude had been coming. Utd have conceded 92 shots on goals in 5 home games so far, a simply staggering statistic. Ferguson refused to address the cavernous hole in the middle of the park in the summer, instead relying on youth and pace to carry Utd away from the pack. What he probably didn’t bet on though, was City adding players of the quality of Aguero and Nasri to their squad; and the complete and utter decline of Rio Ferdinand. Now barely able to run, Ferdinand looks about as good as Gary Neville did before he announced his retirement. Elsewhere across the back line Evra is becoming increasingly more erratic both in form and mood and Jonny Evans needs to be shipped off to the reserves of the nearby Fox & Duck. Three goals in injury time added a spoonful of humiliation on top of what was already a terrible afternoon, but if it gives Utd a wakeup call, personally I’m all for it. The cold hard facts are that for all their team spirit and experience, right now only 3 United players would get in the City team. All that money looks finally to have clicked and for all the feeble chirping of Liverpool fans who have nothing to celebrate but a home point to the might of Norwich, it could spell trouble not just for Utd, but for a league that probably can’t compete in general...
All freakish results have to be considered in context and, as week 9 of the new season came to a close, this result will eventually mean very little if Utd lift the title come May. The more worrying thing for Utd fans isn’t a one off freakish scoreline, but that City have been looking better than them in virtually every league game so far. Defensively, a shambles of this magnitude had been coming. Utd have conceded 92 shots on goals in 5 home games so far, a simply staggering statistic. Ferguson refused to address the cavernous hole in the middle of the park in the summer, instead relying on youth and pace to carry Utd away from the pack. What he probably didn’t bet on though, was City adding players of the quality of Aguero and Nasri to their squad; and the complete and utter decline of Rio Ferdinand. Now barely able to run, Ferdinand looks about as good as Gary Neville did before he announced his retirement. Elsewhere across the back line Evra is becoming increasingly more erratic both in form and mood and Jonny Evans needs to be shipped off to the reserves of the nearby Fox & Duck. Three goals in injury time added a spoonful of humiliation on top of what was already a terrible afternoon, but if it gives Utd a wakeup call, personally I’m all for it. The cold hard facts are that for all their team spirit and experience, right now only 3 United players would get in the City team. All that money looks finally to have clicked and for all the feeble chirping of Liverpool fans who have nothing to celebrate but a home point to the might of Norwich, it could spell trouble not just for Utd, but for a league that probably can’t compete in general...
2. When are managers going to stop being so bloody biased?
If retrospective punishment for players is introduced, why not the same for managers who sit there and just lie about what happened after the match? A thoroughly entertaining London derby saw Neil Warnock and AVB come away with such wildly polarised opinions it boarded on the ridiculous. But it was Saturday’s game that really took the biscuit as Roy Hodgson, normally a picture of calm assurance, wildly claimed that Chris Herd had got sent off for “a clear stamp.” Understandably aggrieved by Alan Hutton’s mystifyingly dangerous tackle going unpunished, Hodgson remains a better man than just making up claims to try and defend a dismissal that must rank as one of the worst decisions of the decade. It wasn’t a stamp, it wasn’t even a foul. It wasn’t... anything. Come on lads, for crying out loud man up and admit that sometimes you just get very, very lucky. It’s easy to criticise the ref when you’ve lost, it would be nice if someone did it when they’d been on the other side of the decision for a change.
If retrospective punishment for players is introduced, why not the same for managers who sit there and just lie about what happened after the match? A thoroughly entertaining London derby saw Neil Warnock and AVB come away with such wildly polarised opinions it boarded on the ridiculous. But it was Saturday’s game that really took the biscuit as Roy Hodgson, normally a picture of calm assurance, wildly claimed that Chris Herd had got sent off for “a clear stamp.” Understandably aggrieved by Alan Hutton’s mystifyingly dangerous tackle going unpunished, Hodgson remains a better man than just making up claims to try and defend a dismissal that must rank as one of the worst decisions of the decade. It wasn’t a stamp, it wasn’t even a foul. It wasn’t... anything. Come on lads, for crying out loud man up and admit that sometimes you just get very, very lucky. It’s easy to criticise the ref when you’ve lost, it would be nice if someone did it when they’d been on the other side of the decision for a change.
3. Ray Wilkins needs to move on.
Firstly credit where credit’s due, after a shaky start Gary Neville has achieved in 2 months what Alan Shearer hasn’t done in 5 years, he has become a genuinely interesting pundit who is learning each week. His banter with Redknapp is top notch and whilst he’s still Red Nev, he at least manages to remain impartial during his analysis. Wilkins on the other hand, really has to stop being allowed in the commentary box when Chelsea are playing. Biased to the point of madness, Wilkins is a terrible pundit, often drifting off into his own thoughts and seemingly having to be slapped off screen to shut the hell up. Most irritating though, is his continued predilection for referring to Chelsea players by their first name. Calling out “JT” and “Frank” is bad enough, but yesterday saw the introduction of “Didier,” “Nico” and the inexplicable “Old John Obi.” Suddenly it’s becoming all too clear why Wilkins was sacked, presumably Roman spent two hours in his company and decided enough was enough. It’s time to move on mate... seriously.
Firstly credit where credit’s due, after a shaky start Gary Neville has achieved in 2 months what Alan Shearer hasn’t done in 5 years, he has become a genuinely interesting pundit who is learning each week. His banter with Redknapp is top notch and whilst he’s still Red Nev, he at least manages to remain impartial during his analysis. Wilkins on the other hand, really has to stop being allowed in the commentary box when Chelsea are playing. Biased to the point of madness, Wilkins is a terrible pundit, often drifting off into his own thoughts and seemingly having to be slapped off screen to shut the hell up. Most irritating though, is his continued predilection for referring to Chelsea players by their first name. Calling out “JT” and “Frank” is bad enough, but yesterday saw the introduction of “Didier,” “Nico” and the inexplicable “Old John Obi.” Suddenly it’s becoming all too clear why Wilkins was sacked, presumably Roman spent two hours in his company and decided enough was enough. It’s time to move on mate... seriously.
4. Mario Balotelli, the man Adel Taarabt wishes he was.
6-1 looks like and was a complete battering, but until Jonny Evans got sent off yesterday the Manchester derby was a very even contest with the exception of one man. Balotelli was the difference, scoring the first two goals and getting the wrong side of Gerard Piques equal for the dismissal. Superb in the last five games, the same certainly can’t be said of Adel Taarabt. Storming off the pitch yesterday for what already seems like the 20th time this season, Taarabt’s delicate flicks and range of passing were ultimately less memorable than him arguing with his own players and diving to the ground like he’d been shot whenever a Chelsea player came within a yard of him. If you’re going to be a complete cock, you’ve got to be performing on the pitch. Something that it seems Mario Balotelli has finally learnt to his favour.
6-1 looks like and was a complete battering, but until Jonny Evans got sent off yesterday the Manchester derby was a very even contest with the exception of one man. Balotelli was the difference, scoring the first two goals and getting the wrong side of Gerard Piques equal for the dismissal. Superb in the last five games, the same certainly can’t be said of Adel Taarabt. Storming off the pitch yesterday for what already seems like the 20th time this season, Taarabt’s delicate flicks and range of passing were ultimately less memorable than him arguing with his own players and diving to the ground like he’d been shot whenever a Chelsea player came within a yard of him. If you’re going to be a complete cock, you’ve got to be performing on the pitch. Something that it seems Mario Balotelli has finally learnt to his favour.
5. Football needs to get racism under control.
It may be a co-incidence, but the last week has seen a ludicrous four players being accused of racist remarks, with England’s referee/captain John Terry and Cesc Fabregas adding their names to the potential list of shame. Surely video footage of matches is sufficient that these claims can be proved one way or another? John Terry allegedly racially abused Anton Ferdinand with around 6 players within a yard? Shouldn’t the FA ask them what they heard, even if they decline to comment? Football players are idiots and the last thing we want is for a “he were racist to me guvnor” epidemic to spread across the game like that pathetic spitting spell a few years back. Either prove it, or punish the player who made up the claim. Mind you, Fifa is hardly a benchmark for the racist moral compass, fining nations such as Russia and Spain an average of around £2.50 for ignorant and inexcusable abuse during matches. There have been giant steps towards the stamping out of these scenes over the past few years, football needs to act quickly to ensure all the good work isn’t undone.
It may be a co-incidence, but the last week has seen a ludicrous four players being accused of racist remarks, with England’s referee/captain John Terry and Cesc Fabregas adding their names to the potential list of shame. Surely video footage of matches is sufficient that these claims can be proved one way or another? John Terry allegedly racially abused Anton Ferdinand with around 6 players within a yard? Shouldn’t the FA ask them what they heard, even if they decline to comment? Football players are idiots and the last thing we want is for a “he were racist to me guvnor” epidemic to spread across the game like that pathetic spitting spell a few years back. Either prove it, or punish the player who made up the claim. Mind you, Fifa is hardly a benchmark for the racist moral compass, fining nations such as Russia and Spain an average of around £2.50 for ignorant and inexcusable abuse during matches. There have been giant steps towards the stamping out of these scenes over the past few years, football needs to act quickly to ensure all the good work isn’t undone.
Team of the season so far as we reach the quarter stage:
Krull
Richards – Coloccini – Kompany – R.Taylor
Anderson – Parker – Ramires
Silva – Aguero - Rooney
No comments:
Post a Comment