1. Norwich don’t look out of place.
Having not splashed the cash in the transfer window like QPR and thus far overshadowed by the praise for Swansea’s passing style and home fortress, it’s high time Norwich were given some credit. Sitting pretty in the top half on 19 points, the Canaries have performed admirably and won pretty much every game against teams beneath them. They’ve also scored plenty of goals. Grant Holt may look like someone who belongs in the cast of a dungeons and dragon enactment, but if you put the crosses in he’ll get on the end of them. Granted Newcastle were patched up and shorn of their centre backs, but Norwich bullied them and were the better team throughout. Paul Lambert is doing a fine job and you suspect the clubs biggest task may now not be avoiding relegation, but retaining his services past the summer.
Having not splashed the cash in the transfer window like QPR and thus far overshadowed by the praise for Swansea’s passing style and home fortress, it’s high time Norwich were given some credit. Sitting pretty in the top half on 19 points, the Canaries have performed admirably and won pretty much every game against teams beneath them. They’ve also scored plenty of goals. Grant Holt may look like someone who belongs in the cast of a dungeons and dragon enactment, but if you put the crosses in he’ll get on the end of them. Granted Newcastle were patched up and shorn of their centre backs, but Norwich bullied them and were the better team throughout. Paul Lambert is doing a fine job and you suspect the clubs biggest task may now not be avoiding relegation, but retaining his services past the summer.
2. Van Persie takes another step towards greatness.
You have to wonder if Van Persie could always have been this good had he actually played a full season, or if this is truly a striker hitting his peak. The answer, as always is a little bit of both. There’s no doubting Robin is benefiting from a proper run of games, but this is also a different player and person to the obnoxious and arrogant Dutchman who first arrived in London. Unlike Fabregas, there is selflessness about RVP since he was made Captain. He is leading the line with verve and menace as is proving an inspiration to the entire team. On the verge of breaking the premier league record for goals scored in a calendar year, RVP is as currently as good as any striker playing in world football. His volley on Saturday being the sort of strike where it’s hard to say anything but a kind of drooling orgasm like sound. Scoring tap ins, headers and wonder goals... the man is a joy to watch and is a massive contender for David Silva’s alleged shoe in for player of the year.
You have to wonder if Van Persie could always have been this good had he actually played a full season, or if this is truly a striker hitting his peak. The answer, as always is a little bit of both. There’s no doubting Robin is benefiting from a proper run of games, but this is also a different player and person to the obnoxious and arrogant Dutchman who first arrived in London. Unlike Fabregas, there is selflessness about RVP since he was made Captain. He is leading the line with verve and menace as is proving an inspiration to the entire team. On the verge of breaking the premier league record for goals scored in a calendar year, RVP is as currently as good as any striker playing in world football. His volley on Saturday being the sort of strike where it’s hard to say anything but a kind of drooling orgasm like sound. Scoring tap ins, headers and wonder goals... the man is a joy to watch and is a massive contender for David Silva’s alleged shoe in for player of the year.
3. The Irish are still lucky.
Luck is certainly something you couldn’t accuse Steve Kean of having right now, his team having thrown away more leads than anyone and on three separate occasions during injury time. Yesterday Sunderland huffed and puffed and looked like they couldn’t blow the house down until two wonder strikes turned the game on its head. Martin O’Neil would have been pleased by the effort and application of his new squad, but must be very concerned at the core levels of total mediocrity that Steve Bruce injected into Teeside this summer. Sunderland possess at least 14 midfielders who could be described as “alright” – and that’s their strongest area. Still, his winning start condemned Steve Kean to another post match interview when he managed to find all the positives (almost not losing) and seem to have zero idea how to correct the negatives (Blackburn keep losing). Currently on a staggering stay of execution, it has to be said that for all their negative play at times, he is making Blackburn very compelling to watch in an entertainingly bad horror movie way.
Luck is certainly something you couldn’t accuse Steve Kean of having right now, his team having thrown away more leads than anyone and on three separate occasions during injury time. Yesterday Sunderland huffed and puffed and looked like they couldn’t blow the house down until two wonder strikes turned the game on its head. Martin O’Neil would have been pleased by the effort and application of his new squad, but must be very concerned at the core levels of total mediocrity that Steve Bruce injected into Teeside this summer. Sunderland possess at least 14 midfielders who could be described as “alright” – and that’s their strongest area. Still, his winning start condemned Steve Kean to another post match interview when he managed to find all the positives (almost not losing) and seem to have zero idea how to correct the negatives (Blackburn keep losing). Currently on a staggering stay of execution, it has to be said that for all their negative play at times, he is making Blackburn very compelling to watch in an entertainingly bad horror movie way.
4. Owen Coyle needs to sort it out.
Phil Gartside is one of the more loyal chairmen in the league and it still seems unlikely that he will part with a manager who remains young, local and positive... but Bolton’s form is now a full blown crisis. Bottom of the league as we hit the festive season, they are losing their best defender in the transfer window and remain incapable of stopping the opposition scoring. A large part of that is down to the continued and mystifying selection of Paul Robinson at full back. It’s been clear from the start that such a sham of a Premier League player was sleeping with the boss, but Owen Coyle can’t let how good Robinson is in the sack muddy his thoughts when it comes to selection. He’s currently the worst defender in the league, making horrific errors each week and not being able to actually run. Coyle has to be cruel to be kind, taking not just Robinson out of the team but finding a midfield that can actually play together rather than just picking the players he likes. Gael Kakuta could surely be given a chance to see what he can do. He might not be Daniel Sturridge, but he’s got to be better than Darren Pratley. Bolton’s four festive games are against Fulham, Blackburn, Newcastle and Wolves. If they don’t get at least 7 points from that it could be game over. There first four in January are Everton, Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Phil Gartside is one of the more loyal chairmen in the league and it still seems unlikely that he will part with a manager who remains young, local and positive... but Bolton’s form is now a full blown crisis. Bottom of the league as we hit the festive season, they are losing their best defender in the transfer window and remain incapable of stopping the opposition scoring. A large part of that is down to the continued and mystifying selection of Paul Robinson at full back. It’s been clear from the start that such a sham of a Premier League player was sleeping with the boss, but Owen Coyle can’t let how good Robinson is in the sack muddy his thoughts when it comes to selection. He’s currently the worst defender in the league, making horrific errors each week and not being able to actually run. Coyle has to be cruel to be kind, taking not just Robinson out of the team but finding a midfield that can actually play together rather than just picking the players he likes. Gael Kakuta could surely be given a chance to see what he can do. He might not be Daniel Sturridge, but he’s got to be better than Darren Pratley. Bolton’s four festive games are against Fulham, Blackburn, Newcastle and Wolves. If they don’t get at least 7 points from that it could be game over. There first four in January are Everton, Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool.
5. Neil Warnock is just having a laugh.
Since the QPR ownership situation was resolved and Warnock was given the vote of confidence, not to mention several pounds of cash to spend, the former Blades boss has been strutting around like a child who’s been given the keys to the sweetshop and cannot possible contain his happiness. Formally an antagonist, often furious post match interviewer, Warnock now is unable to keep the smile off his face whenever speaking to the media. He may as well be wearing a t-shirt that says “I’m a Premier League Manager and I love every single minute of it.” It’s incredibly pleasing to see someone enjoying their job so much, especially when it’s a job that most armchair critics like myself covet each week. Having already signed Joey Barton and made him captain “for a laugh” – Warnock even defended Luis Suarez this weekend saying he needs protection not persecution. The dour, forlorn manager is so last year and despite Mick McCarthy’s attempts to keep beating the drum that he has the hardest job in the world, you hope that more people take a leaf out of Warnock’s book and realise that managing a football club, working out your tactics, screaming at officials and taking Paddy Kenny to every team you go to... can actually be really fun.
Since the QPR ownership situation was resolved and Warnock was given the vote of confidence, not to mention several pounds of cash to spend, the former Blades boss has been strutting around like a child who’s been given the keys to the sweetshop and cannot possible contain his happiness. Formally an antagonist, often furious post match interviewer, Warnock now is unable to keep the smile off his face whenever speaking to the media. He may as well be wearing a t-shirt that says “I’m a Premier League Manager and I love every single minute of it.” It’s incredibly pleasing to see someone enjoying their job so much, especially when it’s a job that most armchair critics like myself covet each week. Having already signed Joey Barton and made him captain “for a laugh” – Warnock even defended Luis Suarez this weekend saying he needs protection not persecution. The dour, forlorn manager is so last year and despite Mick McCarthy’s attempts to keep beating the drum that he has the hardest job in the world, you hope that more people take a leaf out of Warnock’s book and realise that managing a football club, working out your tactics, screaming at officials and taking Paddy Kenny to every team you go to... can actually be really fun.
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