1. Sometimes it’s defeat, not victory that can be snatched from the jaws of a draw.
The New Year’s Eve/Day fixtures saw a flurry of late goals and drama but none more so that at Sunderland where the Black Cats grabbed the most implausible of late winners. Both Manchester clubs had found themselves (for contrasting reasons) entering the final 10 minutes of their matches drawing against struggling opposition. Playing poorly, these were exactly the moments when commentators roll out the clichés of “this is where titles are won and lost, playing badly against lower teams and grinding out victories at the death.” What was surprising then, not to mention mildly amusing, was that not only did both teams fail to go on and win, but watch in horror as they conceded late goals and lost. Sadly, with pretty much all the chasing pack stumbling as well, the title remains a 2 horse race barring Spurs staying almost completely injury free for another 20 games. But even so, it was nice to see the underdogs very much having their day for once.
The New Year’s Eve/Day fixtures saw a flurry of late goals and drama but none more so that at Sunderland where the Black Cats grabbed the most implausible of late winners. Both Manchester clubs had found themselves (for contrasting reasons) entering the final 10 minutes of their matches drawing against struggling opposition. Playing poorly, these were exactly the moments when commentators roll out the clichés of “this is where titles are won and lost, playing badly against lower teams and grinding out victories at the death.” What was surprising then, not to mention mildly amusing, was that not only did both teams fail to go on and win, but watch in horror as they conceded late goals and lost. Sadly, with pretty much all the chasing pack stumbling as well, the title remains a 2 horse race barring Spurs staying almost completely injury free for another 20 games. But even so, it was nice to see the underdogs very much having their day for once.
2. Chelsea’s old guard is really creaking.
Yesterday’s narrow and lucky victory over Wolves did little to change the feeling that Chelsea are in a really difficult period. No transition is easy, Fergie has managed it a few times, Wenger twice… but most managers struggle to develop more than a single team, more often than not getting sacked before they have the chance to do so. Chelsea could do a lot worse than sticking with AVB and his pleasingly positive philosophy, but there is little doubt the club has to go through a major overhaul. Four of the back five who played against Villa were part of the Jose era that conceded goals like Shylock tossed around money. The problem isn’t just the organisation though; the simple fact is that five years ago the likes of John Terry and Peter Cech were just better players. Ashleigh Cole is the latest big name to find himself waning, having been given a torrid time by several wingers already this season. Add to this the likes of Anelka, Malouda & Drogba all moving on and Frank Lampard every bit as bad, but now nowhere near as fit or lucky as he used to be… and it’s clear AVB has his work cut out. He will need time and money to succeed and could do a lot worse than play his young charges with more regularity than he is doing. I mean Christ, I haven’t even mentioned Fernando Torres…
Yesterday’s narrow and lucky victory over Wolves did little to change the feeling that Chelsea are in a really difficult period. No transition is easy, Fergie has managed it a few times, Wenger twice… but most managers struggle to develop more than a single team, more often than not getting sacked before they have the chance to do so. Chelsea could do a lot worse than sticking with AVB and his pleasingly positive philosophy, but there is little doubt the club has to go through a major overhaul. Four of the back five who played against Villa were part of the Jose era that conceded goals like Shylock tossed around money. The problem isn’t just the organisation though; the simple fact is that five years ago the likes of John Terry and Peter Cech were just better players. Ashleigh Cole is the latest big name to find himself waning, having been given a torrid time by several wingers already this season. Add to this the likes of Anelka, Malouda & Drogba all moving on and Frank Lampard every bit as bad, but now nowhere near as fit or lucky as he used to be… and it’s clear AVB has his work cut out. He will need time and money to succeed and could do a lot worse than play his young charges with more regularity than he is doing. I mean Christ, I haven’t even mentioned Fernando Torres…
3. Arsenals defence is somehow improving.
Thumped by United and then conceding four to Blackburn, Arsenal were in such disarray in September that Lee Dixon & Martin Keown appeared to actually threaten the club. After this was followed by a flurry of injuries and the inspiring but flawed 5-3 thriller at Stamford Bridge, the thought of Arsenal having the best defensive record in the league over the next 10 games seemed like a highly unlikely prospect. But, 10 games since that match Arsenal have kept 5 clean sheets and conceded only 1 goal apiece in each of the others. They’ve lost just once against City and have learnt that if they can keep clean sheets, Van Persie will almost always score to win the match for them. The difference seems to have been not just an improved and settled midfield which now occasionally protects the back four, but the fact that the said back four have been composed entirely of centre backs. This has worked well for Wenger, who shorn of rampaging but defensively ill equipped full backs, has seen his troops deliver more steel and solidity, especially when it comes to set pieces. Arsenal won’t win the league, but pride has been restored in North London and with them and Spurs playing the way they are, Chelsea and Liverpool have a lot of work to do to get in the Champions League next season.
Thumped by United and then conceding four to Blackburn, Arsenal were in such disarray in September that Lee Dixon & Martin Keown appeared to actually threaten the club. After this was followed by a flurry of injuries and the inspiring but flawed 5-3 thriller at Stamford Bridge, the thought of Arsenal having the best defensive record in the league over the next 10 games seemed like a highly unlikely prospect. But, 10 games since that match Arsenal have kept 5 clean sheets and conceded only 1 goal apiece in each of the others. They’ve lost just once against City and have learnt that if they can keep clean sheets, Van Persie will almost always score to win the match for them. The difference seems to have been not just an improved and settled midfield which now occasionally protects the back four, but the fact that the said back four have been composed entirely of centre backs. This has worked well for Wenger, who shorn of rampaging but defensively ill equipped full backs, has seen his troops deliver more steel and solidity, especially when it comes to set pieces. Arsenal won’t win the league, but pride has been restored in North London and with them and Spurs playing the way they are, Chelsea and Liverpool have a lot of work to do to get in the Champions League next season.
(p.s. - it should be noted that this was written at 6pm yesterday, following which Arsenal contrived to get a man sent off and throw away a lead inside ten minutes and totally disprove most of the above. It's tough being a journalist you know... but I just can't be arsed to now rewrite it. Let it be held up as an example of how delicate this sport can be at times...)
4. It’s 3 from 5 for the drop.
Whilst the likes of Fulham, Sunderland and Villa have all struggled at times this season, none of them are in positions where you can see them losing another 10 or 11 games and actually end up relegated. Already slightly cut off, Wolves and QPR are now the only clubs who should be nervously looking over their shoulder to see the bottom three peering ominously up at them. They may be spared by the hopelessness of the clubs beneath them, but neither manager is safe from the sack so close to the transfer window. Indeed following yet another home defeat, Neil Warnock can’t be sleeping too well at present. Despite Wigan’s mini recovery though the jury is still out that they possess the players capable of putting another 20 odd points on the board. Blackburn remain a club in crisis and continue to be severely undermined in every home game by their vociferous fans, detracting completely from good performances on the road. Bolton meanwhile look the worst of the lot and are about to lose their only defender to Chelsea. They can’t score, create or keep clean sheets… which is never a great position to be in. Still, given Owen Coyle once again elected to play Paul Robinson over my Nan this Christmas (now dead, god rest her soul, but still actually better than Robinson given she wouldn’t actually give the opposition a goal every match)… I’ve ran out of sympathy.
Whilst the likes of Fulham, Sunderland and Villa have all struggled at times this season, none of them are in positions where you can see them losing another 10 or 11 games and actually end up relegated. Already slightly cut off, Wolves and QPR are now the only clubs who should be nervously looking over their shoulder to see the bottom three peering ominously up at them. They may be spared by the hopelessness of the clubs beneath them, but neither manager is safe from the sack so close to the transfer window. Indeed following yet another home defeat, Neil Warnock can’t be sleeping too well at present. Despite Wigan’s mini recovery though the jury is still out that they possess the players capable of putting another 20 odd points on the board. Blackburn remain a club in crisis and continue to be severely undermined in every home game by their vociferous fans, detracting completely from good performances on the road. Bolton meanwhile look the worst of the lot and are about to lose their only defender to Chelsea. They can’t score, create or keep clean sheets… which is never a great position to be in. Still, given Owen Coyle once again elected to play Paul Robinson over my Nan this Christmas (now dead, god rest her soul, but still actually better than Robinson given she wouldn’t actually give the opposition a goal every match)… I’ve ran out of sympathy.
5. Is Television Football Punditry now a dead art?
Gary Neville is trying, I’ll give him that, but over the past couple of years and certainly since “Gray/Keys Gate” television punditry has been toned down to such a banal level that trained chimps may as well be sat on the MOTD couch or ESPN/SKY studios. Is it a crime to express an opinion that doesn’t come wrapped in its own bundle of clichés? Or to say something about a match that the scoreline couldn’t have already told us? At one point on MOTD this weekend, Lineker asked Alan Shearer if he agreed with what Mark Lawrenson had just said about one particular game. Shearer looked confused and surprised and just about managed to mumble a “yes… they deserved it, poor” before the camera panned away and yet again spared his considerable blushes. He is not alone though in his total ineptitude. Kevin Keegan is less a pundit than a haircut and I’m not sure Matthew Le Tissier is qualified to speak our language let alone pass off his opinions as some sort of factual insight on this increasingly sullied sport. Good pundits do come (and go) – Gavin Peacock, Graeme Le Saux, any American Goalkeeper. By and large though, the trend is getting worse not better and sooner, rather than later, somebody is going to get desperate and put Alan Green, Stuart Hall and Dave Whelan on a couch together. And nobody wants that.
Gary Neville is trying, I’ll give him that, but over the past couple of years and certainly since “Gray/Keys Gate” television punditry has been toned down to such a banal level that trained chimps may as well be sat on the MOTD couch or ESPN/SKY studios. Is it a crime to express an opinion that doesn’t come wrapped in its own bundle of clichés? Or to say something about a match that the scoreline couldn’t have already told us? At one point on MOTD this weekend, Lineker asked Alan Shearer if he agreed with what Mark Lawrenson had just said about one particular game. Shearer looked confused and surprised and just about managed to mumble a “yes… they deserved it, poor” before the camera panned away and yet again spared his considerable blushes. He is not alone though in his total ineptitude. Kevin Keegan is less a pundit than a haircut and I’m not sure Matthew Le Tissier is qualified to speak our language let alone pass off his opinions as some sort of factual insight on this increasingly sullied sport. Good pundits do come (and go) – Gavin Peacock, Graeme Le Saux, any American Goalkeeper. By and large though, the trend is getting worse not better and sooner, rather than later, somebody is going to get desperate and put Alan Green, Stuart Hall and Dave Whelan on a couch together. And nobody wants that.
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