1. David Moyes got it wrong.
Liverpool are the worst team in the league this side of Christmas, with the exception of Wolves (or “Pups” as this blog will now refer to them as) but at Wembley on Saturday David Moyes treated them like superior opponents who he had to stifle and disrupt to have any chance to beat. In short, he showed Kenny Daglish’s squad a respect it simply didn’t deserve. For starters Everton have better players, especially across the midfield where Liverpool continue to field Downing, an out of sorts Gerrard and the woeful Jordan Henderson (it was no coincidence they got better when he was taken off). Secondly they were playing better and, unlike Liverpool, had a striker bang in form. A striker who was continually left isolated against their rivals third choice keeper. The decision to play Distin ahead of Jagielka badly backfired and ultimately Everton paid the price for their negativity. If Moyes had gone two up front against a shaky defence and suspect keeper they could have been out of sight in the first half. Instead he elected to play Tim Cahill for no reason on earth and then drop him totally into midfield when Liverpool equalised. David Moyes has done a marvellous job at Everton given his resources and they are likely to finish above their city rivals for only the second time since he took over. That achievement though, like the first time, is set to be overshadowed by cup success once more. Moyes has a terrible record in derby matches and you sense he has to stop showing Liverpool respect for that to change. Sometimes a little belief and positive thinking can go a long way. Everton will rarely have such a chance to reach a major cup final whilst kicking their rivals whilst they’re down en route. I’m sorry lads, but Moyes bottled it.
Liverpool are the worst team in the league this side of Christmas, with the exception of Wolves (or “Pups” as this blog will now refer to them as) but at Wembley on Saturday David Moyes treated them like superior opponents who he had to stifle and disrupt to have any chance to beat. In short, he showed Kenny Daglish’s squad a respect it simply didn’t deserve. For starters Everton have better players, especially across the midfield where Liverpool continue to field Downing, an out of sorts Gerrard and the woeful Jordan Henderson (it was no coincidence they got better when he was taken off). Secondly they were playing better and, unlike Liverpool, had a striker bang in form. A striker who was continually left isolated against their rivals third choice keeper. The decision to play Distin ahead of Jagielka badly backfired and ultimately Everton paid the price for their negativity. If Moyes had gone two up front against a shaky defence and suspect keeper they could have been out of sight in the first half. Instead he elected to play Tim Cahill for no reason on earth and then drop him totally into midfield when Liverpool equalised. David Moyes has done a marvellous job at Everton given his resources and they are likely to finish above their city rivals for only the second time since he took over. That achievement though, like the first time, is set to be overshadowed by cup success once more. Moyes has a terrible record in derby matches and you sense he has to stop showing Liverpool respect for that to change. Sometimes a little belief and positive thinking can go a long way. Everton will rarely have such a chance to reach a major cup final whilst kicking their rivals whilst they’re down en route. I’m sorry lads, but Moyes bottled it.
2. Martin Atkinson needs to be banned until next season.
The calls for video evidence aren’t so much growing as now reaching the point where you half expect people to take to the picket lines outside FIFA’s offices. As Ashleigh Young gave us all his latest audition for the Olympic diving team, at least the referee had the excuse there was contact and the player was travelling very fast. Martin Atkinson however, following on from his woeful handling of Arsenal v Man City last week, had no excuses whatsoever for a decision that is right up there as the worst since professional sport began. Despite there being four players on the line, the ball clearly going nowhere near over it and the assistant referee unmoved, Atkinson elected to give a goal seemingly based solely on the pathetic celebration of Juan Mata. It’s all very well calling for video technology, but people 80 yards away could see it wasn’t a goal. Nobody in the Chelsea side celebrated except Mata and several of them were equally as baffled as everyone else when the goal was given. John Terry’s idiotic post match comments merely served to rub salt in the wounds (you are allowed to talk to the ref JT, Christ knows you do it enough) and Spurs then surrendered all their dignity in the way that only they can by conceding a hatful. This was another terrible weekend for top level football with poor decisions and games ruined early by inaccurate calls. Atkinson though can have nowhere to hide. If players and managers can be suspended for breaking the rules then the same should be said about referees. He should be stripped of his match fee and thrown into the lower leagues until next season. For an official at this level to be swayed so obviously by a player’s reaction is completely and utterly unforgivable.
The calls for video evidence aren’t so much growing as now reaching the point where you half expect people to take to the picket lines outside FIFA’s offices. As Ashleigh Young gave us all his latest audition for the Olympic diving team, at least the referee had the excuse there was contact and the player was travelling very fast. Martin Atkinson however, following on from his woeful handling of Arsenal v Man City last week, had no excuses whatsoever for a decision that is right up there as the worst since professional sport began. Despite there being four players on the line, the ball clearly going nowhere near over it and the assistant referee unmoved, Atkinson elected to give a goal seemingly based solely on the pathetic celebration of Juan Mata. It’s all very well calling for video technology, but people 80 yards away could see it wasn’t a goal. Nobody in the Chelsea side celebrated except Mata and several of them were equally as baffled as everyone else when the goal was given. John Terry’s idiotic post match comments merely served to rub salt in the wounds (you are allowed to talk to the ref JT, Christ knows you do it enough) and Spurs then surrendered all their dignity in the way that only they can by conceding a hatful. This was another terrible weekend for top level football with poor decisions and games ruined early by inaccurate calls. Atkinson though can have nowhere to hide. If players and managers can be suspended for breaking the rules then the same should be said about referees. He should be stripped of his match fee and thrown into the lower leagues until next season. For an official at this level to be swayed so obviously by a player’s reaction is completely and utterly unforgivable.
3. City might just play better without Balotelli.
Aside from the slightly painful sight of City fans worshipping the performance of Carlos Tevez, this has been an impressive few days for the Sky Blues; who have given themselves half a chance of keeping the title race alive to the last game of the season. 10 goals in 2 games only tells half the story. City have been playing with freedom and guile once more and have refound their finishing touch. They have also, somewhat tellingly, not been playing with somebody they hate on the pitch with them. Whatever Tevez’ crimes, it was always clear his team mates loved him. His work ethic is top notch and his strike rate with the club is as good as anyone in Europe. Ten days off looks to have done Silva the world of good and he was fresh and back to his best against Norwich. On this form City could easily win their last four matches at a canter. If they do though, the debate will be whether Mancini should have cast Balotelli aside before a suspension made his decision for him. After all, the moody Italian wasn’t playing early on in the season either when City were destroying teams at will. That conversation can wait until the summer... for now; it’s just good to see a little bit of suspense as we approach the last few games again.
Aside from the slightly painful sight of City fans worshipping the performance of Carlos Tevez, this has been an impressive few days for the Sky Blues; who have given themselves half a chance of keeping the title race alive to the last game of the season. 10 goals in 2 games only tells half the story. City have been playing with freedom and guile once more and have refound their finishing touch. They have also, somewhat tellingly, not been playing with somebody they hate on the pitch with them. Whatever Tevez’ crimes, it was always clear his team mates loved him. His work ethic is top notch and his strike rate with the club is as good as anyone in Europe. Ten days off looks to have done Silva the world of good and he was fresh and back to his best against Norwich. On this form City could easily win their last four matches at a canter. If they do though, the debate will be whether Mancini should have cast Balotelli aside before a suspension made his decision for him. After all, the moody Italian wasn’t playing early on in the season either when City were destroying teams at will. That conversation can wait until the summer... for now; it’s just good to see a little bit of suspense as we approach the last few games again.
4. The writing is on the wall for Blackburn.
One of the things that never ceases to surprise me about football is how people make sweeping judgements based on a couple of games (see Garth Crookes for the worst offender). A month ago Blackburn were “safe,” Steve Kean had “turned the corner” and was people were even suggesting he win the manager of the year award. Since then, Blackburn have been in total freefall. They have lost five on the bounce and have Spurs and Chelsea away in four final fixtures they surely need at least seven points from to have any chance of staying up. How they lost against Liverpool in midweek I’ll never know, but they were shocking on Saturday against a stuttering Swansea side with nothing to play for. With Pups already relegated the smart money is on Venky’s Kentucky Fried Army joining them in the Championship next season. Bolton have games in hand but they’re not easy, Wigan have some momentum and QPR are simply impossible to predict from one game to the next. Whatever happens, this blogist isn’t going to make any sweeping statements that will come back to haunt him in a month’s time. Except thatWolves Pups are going down of course. Because... well, they are.
One of the things that never ceases to surprise me about football is how people make sweeping judgements based on a couple of games (see Garth Crookes for the worst offender). A month ago Blackburn were “safe,” Steve Kean had “turned the corner” and was people were even suggesting he win the manager of the year award. Since then, Blackburn have been in total freefall. They have lost five on the bounce and have Spurs and Chelsea away in four final fixtures they surely need at least seven points from to have any chance of staying up. How they lost against Liverpool in midweek I’ll never know, but they were shocking on Saturday against a stuttering Swansea side with nothing to play for. With Pups already relegated the smart money is on Venky’s Kentucky Fried Army joining them in the Championship next season. Bolton have games in hand but they’re not easy, Wigan have some momentum and QPR are simply impossible to predict from one game to the next. Whatever happens, this blogist isn’t going to make any sweeping statements that will come back to haunt him in a month’s time. Except that
5. What in God’s name is going on with MOTD2.
The Sunday night show has always tread a thin line between farce and entertainment, but last night’s episode dipped its dirty toe into a sea of televised excrement, before just throwing itself in without a life jacket. The show was a farcical 80 minutes long despite only having one match to cover and a legal obligation to show no more than 12 minutes of highlights. Nobody needed to see the return of Kevin Day; a man who has clearly never played football in any sort of capacity and knows as much about the game as my mother. His “boots and all” feature with the QPR kit-man was base level journalism and one of the worst ten minutes of television I’ve ever been subjected to. This was topped though by the ridiculous amount of time given to just chatting with Jonas Olsson. Initially looking a bit confused, Olsson was full on scared by the end as Murray & Dixon continued to pepper him with questions about Sweden’s International non rivalry with England. Let’s get one thing straight, Colin Murray is a terrible presenter. Adrian Chiles at least had the nerve to ask big questions and seemed to actually know what he was talking about. Murray is a radio DJ being asked to pass judgement on professional sport. He’s worse than DJ Spooney, who at least makes no apologies for who he is. Both the BBC shows needs a serious revamp in the summer, the essence of which needs to see Murray, Day & Shearer be sent to Swaziland without weaponry. Let’s see them make banal comments out there...
The Sunday night show has always tread a thin line between farce and entertainment, but last night’s episode dipped its dirty toe into a sea of televised excrement, before just throwing itself in without a life jacket. The show was a farcical 80 minutes long despite only having one match to cover and a legal obligation to show no more than 12 minutes of highlights. Nobody needed to see the return of Kevin Day; a man who has clearly never played football in any sort of capacity and knows as much about the game as my mother. His “boots and all” feature with the QPR kit-man was base level journalism and one of the worst ten minutes of television I’ve ever been subjected to. This was topped though by the ridiculous amount of time given to just chatting with Jonas Olsson. Initially looking a bit confused, Olsson was full on scared by the end as Murray & Dixon continued to pepper him with questions about Sweden’s International non rivalry with England. Let’s get one thing straight, Colin Murray is a terrible presenter. Adrian Chiles at least had the nerve to ask big questions and seemed to actually know what he was talking about. Murray is a radio DJ being asked to pass judgement on professional sport. He’s worse than DJ Spooney, who at least makes no apologies for who he is. Both the BBC shows needs a serious revamp in the summer, the essence of which needs to see Murray, Day & Shearer be sent to Swaziland without weaponry. Let’s see them make banal comments out there...
(this “journalist” would like to apologise for the last sentence of point five, which could well be read as questionably racist and almost certainly sociologically ignorant.)
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