1. Stalemate at the
Lane leaves both teams chasing shadows
Spurs v Man Utd was, as ever, an entertaining match filled with moments of quality, refereeing controversy and lots of goals. But as the game eventually ended with the teams locked together, it had becoming increasingly clear that neither of these teams have the quality to challenge for the title. Utd have fine attackers; Rooney was at his imperious best yet again and is forming a decent partnership with Kagawa in the absence of the still brilliant Van Persie. I cannot be bothered to even think, let alone write, about the midfield deficiencies anymore. Let me just say that when a 40 year old man is the best the club can still offer, you have problems. Behind even that obvious problem lies a defence where only Jonny Evans seems capable of going 90 minutes without making a mistake. That’s right… Jonny Evans. Spurs meanwhile find themselves changing their team not by wholesale but by incessant one tweak there, one fiddle there measures. Whatever you call it, it isn’t working. And nor are Roberto Soldado’s shooting boots. Spurs have a good, solid spine and over the season won’t concede a lot of goals, despite the 8 they have just shipped to Manchester. But both of these teams lack the ability throughout the squad to put together a run of 7 or 8 wins and challenge for the main event. No, it is likely both will be competing for a single Champions League spot with the Merseyside clubs come May. Although given both are still below Newcastle… maybe even that is wishful thinking.
Spurs v Man Utd was, as ever, an entertaining match filled with moments of quality, refereeing controversy and lots of goals. But as the game eventually ended with the teams locked together, it had becoming increasingly clear that neither of these teams have the quality to challenge for the title. Utd have fine attackers; Rooney was at his imperious best yet again and is forming a decent partnership with Kagawa in the absence of the still brilliant Van Persie. I cannot be bothered to even think, let alone write, about the midfield deficiencies anymore. Let me just say that when a 40 year old man is the best the club can still offer, you have problems. Behind even that obvious problem lies a defence where only Jonny Evans seems capable of going 90 minutes without making a mistake. That’s right… Jonny Evans. Spurs meanwhile find themselves changing their team not by wholesale but by incessant one tweak there, one fiddle there measures. Whatever you call it, it isn’t working. And nor are Roberto Soldado’s shooting boots. Spurs have a good, solid spine and over the season won’t concede a lot of goals, despite the 8 they have just shipped to Manchester. But both of these teams lack the ability throughout the squad to put together a run of 7 or 8 wins and challenge for the main event. No, it is likely both will be competing for a single Champions League spot with the Merseyside clubs come May. Although given both are still below Newcastle… maybe even that is wishful thinking.
2. Chelsea have the
best reserve number 10 in the world
The reason Juan Mata can’t get a game, as Jose tells us, is because Oscar is playing in his position and playing out of his skin. That may well be true, but as the Brazilian limped off before half time on Sunday, Mata stepped into his chosen role and from there on in pulled the strings in a second half performance of real quality. Chelsea were outplayed and tactically out thought in the first half. They deserved to be behind to a Southampton team who closed them down all over the pitch. But they came out second half playing longer balls over the middle and were a blur of movement around the Saints penalty box. Key to all of this was Mata. Whether ghosting into space, laying off deft touches or playing mesmeric cross field passes with his instep… the Spaniard reminded everyone that he is simply far, far, far, far too good a player to be on the bench. So should Jose drop Oscar? Clearly not. But given the kid has played 200 games in the last 18 months it wouldn’t hurt to have a slightly more liberal approach to rotating him. Plus even on the flanks Mata remains a handful. Especially when one of your options is Willian. Who is so bad he belongs in a very unique club which I like to call “The Nani’s.”
The reason Juan Mata can’t get a game, as Jose tells us, is because Oscar is playing in his position and playing out of his skin. That may well be true, but as the Brazilian limped off before half time on Sunday, Mata stepped into his chosen role and from there on in pulled the strings in a second half performance of real quality. Chelsea were outplayed and tactically out thought in the first half. They deserved to be behind to a Southampton team who closed them down all over the pitch. But they came out second half playing longer balls over the middle and were a blur of movement around the Saints penalty box. Key to all of this was Mata. Whether ghosting into space, laying off deft touches or playing mesmeric cross field passes with his instep… the Spaniard reminded everyone that he is simply far, far, far, far too good a player to be on the bench. So should Jose drop Oscar? Clearly not. But given the kid has played 200 games in the last 18 months it wouldn’t hurt to have a slightly more liberal approach to rotating him. Plus even on the flanks Mata remains a handful. Especially when one of your options is Willian. Who is so bad he belongs in a very unique club which I like to call “The Nani’s.”
3. Pascal Chimbonda
is a legend
Let us take a break from the top flight for a moment to remember somebody who used to be in it. Pascal Chimbonda, once of Spurs, Sunderland, Wigan and France… and purchased 18 times by Harry Redknapp during transfer windows, is currently playing for League 1 Carlisle United. The phrase “how the mighty have fallen” doesn’t really apply here. For starters Chimbonda never really looked like a footballer to begin with; more of an actor who’d wandered onto the pitch between takes and kind of thought he knew what he was doing. But also because prior to joining Carlisle, Chimbonda had been playing for first Doncaster and then non-league Market Drayton Town. The time has come though, for Pascal to not be mocked for his fall from grace, but celebrated for it. This is a player who clearly loves the game. A man who has no interest in football for the cash, but just for the feeling of stepping on a pitch every Saturday and giving his all. Chimbonda is a dying breed. Hell this is a player who loves the sport so much he agreed to play with El Hadji Diouf. Three fucking times. Pascal. I salute you. And if Harry gets back in the big time soon, I for one will cheer your inevitable signing.
Let us take a break from the top flight for a moment to remember somebody who used to be in it. Pascal Chimbonda, once of Spurs, Sunderland, Wigan and France… and purchased 18 times by Harry Redknapp during transfer windows, is currently playing for League 1 Carlisle United. The phrase “how the mighty have fallen” doesn’t really apply here. For starters Chimbonda never really looked like a footballer to begin with; more of an actor who’d wandered onto the pitch between takes and kind of thought he knew what he was doing. But also because prior to joining Carlisle, Chimbonda had been playing for first Doncaster and then non-league Market Drayton Town. The time has come though, for Pascal to not be mocked for his fall from grace, but celebrated for it. This is a player who clearly loves the game. A man who has no interest in football for the cash, but just for the feeling of stepping on a pitch every Saturday and giving his all. Chimbonda is a dying breed. Hell this is a player who loves the sport so much he agreed to play with El Hadji Diouf. Three fucking times. Pascal. I salute you. And if Harry gets back in the big time soon, I for one will cheer your inevitable signing.
4. Jol had to go
Martin Jol’s position this weekend was just about the dictionary definition of “untenable.” Fulham have now lost five games in a row and are entrenched in the relegation zone. Conceding to the likes of Man Utd and Liverpool is one thing, but conceding three goals to West Ham is something else. Hell, conceding any goal to Carlton Cole is worth the sack alone. Jol ended the last season badly and has never got started this one. Fulham aren’t scoring, are shipping goals like the Titanic did water and look almost completely leaderless. Jol is a likeable man, and I for one would like to see him back in the big leagues with a team solid enough to be able to compete as well as play pretty stuff with almost zero end product going forward. Fulham wasted no time in turning to Rene Meulensteen to rectify the damage caused by Jol’s entertaining but ultimately sub Chris Coleman reign. The Dutchman is highly thought of because he once urinated next to Sir Alex Ferguson. Well that and the fact David Moyes got rid of him. Which right now is just about the highest compliment you could pay anyone. So I’m sure he’ll do fine.
Martin Jol’s position this weekend was just about the dictionary definition of “untenable.” Fulham have now lost five games in a row and are entrenched in the relegation zone. Conceding to the likes of Man Utd and Liverpool is one thing, but conceding three goals to West Ham is something else. Hell, conceding any goal to Carlton Cole is worth the sack alone. Jol ended the last season badly and has never got started this one. Fulham aren’t scoring, are shipping goals like the Titanic did water and look almost completely leaderless. Jol is a likeable man, and I for one would like to see him back in the big leagues with a team solid enough to be able to compete as well as play pretty stuff with almost zero end product going forward. Fulham wasted no time in turning to Rene Meulensteen to rectify the damage caused by Jol’s entertaining but ultimately sub Chris Coleman reign. The Dutchman is highly thought of because he once urinated next to Sir Alex Ferguson. Well that and the fact David Moyes got rid of him. Which right now is just about the highest compliment you could pay anyone. So I’m sure he’ll do fine.
5. Hull aren’t just
cultured off the pitch
Having just spent a surprisingly nice weekend in Hull (it had trees and everything) – I thought I’d do them the honour of my final blog piece. Of course, they somewhat helped me on that front by putting together an inspired display this afternoon where they played Liverpool off the park. Brendan Rodgers men have hit a bit of a wall away from Anfield, and one that won’t be helped by the news that Daniel Sturridge is out until the New Year. It wasn’t entirely clear why Sterling was on the pitch instead of Coutinho… or anyone, but it’s hard to think of a more ineffective performance since Willian last started a gig. Sorry, a game. Anyway, with Suarez not at the races it was left for Steve Bruce’s team to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. Which they duly did, led by pub captain Curtis Davies. Hull have been relegation fodder waiting to happen all season, so I was amazed not only that their city had some nice areas… but that they now sit a barely believable single place back from Spurs in the table. Two back from the champions themselves. If that isn’t a reason to forget about a name change I don’t know what is. Well, Arsenal away in two days maybe.
Having just spent a surprisingly nice weekend in Hull (it had trees and everything) – I thought I’d do them the honour of my final blog piece. Of course, they somewhat helped me on that front by putting together an inspired display this afternoon where they played Liverpool off the park. Brendan Rodgers men have hit a bit of a wall away from Anfield, and one that won’t be helped by the news that Daniel Sturridge is out until the New Year. It wasn’t entirely clear why Sterling was on the pitch instead of Coutinho… or anyone, but it’s hard to think of a more ineffective performance since Willian last started a gig. Sorry, a game. Anyway, with Suarez not at the races it was left for Steve Bruce’s team to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. Which they duly did, led by pub captain Curtis Davies. Hull have been relegation fodder waiting to happen all season, so I was amazed not only that their city had some nice areas… but that they now sit a barely believable single place back from Spurs in the table. Two back from the champions themselves. If that isn’t a reason to forget about a name change I don’t know what is. Well, Arsenal away in two days maybe.
Goodnight.
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