1. All eyes turn to
Anfield
It is fitting, aside from all the comedy and the banter, that this weekend’s potential title decider will take place at Anfield on the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Kick Offs up and down the country will be delayed by 7 minutes in respect to those who lost their lives; and come 1:37 on Sunday, Liverpool and Man City will kick off in a game that nobody saw coming as a potential title blockbuster. Liverpool have won 9 games in a row and despite not playing fluently this weekend, they scraped past West Ham thanks to their 2,754th and 2,755th penalties of the season. Steven Gerrard may just spend all game playing 5 yard passes in his own half, but he’s on the pitch to take set pieces and he has done so with rare aplomb this year. City meanwhile, complete with their own dead ball specialist Ya Ya Toure, also needed a dodgy penalty to help them on their way to victory over a Southampton team visibly rocked by the injury to Jay Rodriguez. The two now face each other in a game that’s almost impossible to call. The two greatest attacks in the league square up in a fixture that is almost, almost winner takes all (Liverpool still have to play Chelsea and City negate a tough trip to Everton). A draw lets Jose and his poor, striker-less team back in and both clubs will know that victory severely damages the others hopes. Liverpool rarely freeze in the big game headlights of Anfield and with the Hillsborough anniversary to throw into the mix as well… I mean, I don’t want to big it up too much… I’m not Sky… but this match is quite simply… fucking unmissable.
It is fitting, aside from all the comedy and the banter, that this weekend’s potential title decider will take place at Anfield on the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Kick Offs up and down the country will be delayed by 7 minutes in respect to those who lost their lives; and come 1:37 on Sunday, Liverpool and Man City will kick off in a game that nobody saw coming as a potential title blockbuster. Liverpool have won 9 games in a row and despite not playing fluently this weekend, they scraped past West Ham thanks to their 2,754th and 2,755th penalties of the season. Steven Gerrard may just spend all game playing 5 yard passes in his own half, but he’s on the pitch to take set pieces and he has done so with rare aplomb this year. City meanwhile, complete with their own dead ball specialist Ya Ya Toure, also needed a dodgy penalty to help them on their way to victory over a Southampton team visibly rocked by the injury to Jay Rodriguez. The two now face each other in a game that’s almost impossible to call. The two greatest attacks in the league square up in a fixture that is almost, almost winner takes all (Liverpool still have to play Chelsea and City negate a tough trip to Everton). A draw lets Jose and his poor, striker-less team back in and both clubs will know that victory severely damages the others hopes. Liverpool rarely freeze in the big game headlights of Anfield and with the Hillsborough anniversary to throw into the mix as well… I mean, I don’t want to big it up too much… I’m not Sky… but this match is quite simply… fucking unmissable.
2. Shinji is what’s
the Mata David
Some managers know their best eleven and others stumble upon it by accident owing to injury and suspension. The latter is true with Moyes, who has survived calls for his head to emerge unbeaten from three crucial league games and two Champions League ones. Key to the league wins have been the pairing of Kagawa and Mata in a fluid 4-2-3-1 with a central striker (either Rooney, Welbeck or Hernandez) creating space for them to work in by making runs beyond the defence. Kagawa was thought surplus to requirements following the arrival of Mata and the mystifying decision to give Rooney a new 5 year contract, but the Japanese international has been pivotal in three league games that have been won 10-1 by Utd. Mata, invisible on the right wing when Rooney and Van Persie were playing, has stepped inside to score 3 goals and set up 2 more in back to back games. Mata is a sham of a right winger and quite simply, has to play in this position going forward. More interesting though, is how well Kagawa has started to play with him. Mata is a similar player, all one touches and give and go’s and the two of them have dovetailed superbly to tear apart three teams who, let’s be fair, are kinda shit. It was clear to anyone before this that Utd’s best formation didn’t involve both Rooney and Van Persie, but it is surely clear to Moyes as well now. He has lacked the balls this year to formally state that, but if he is to remain in charge for next season, he could probably do worse than thank the Dutchman for two wonderful seasons and use the cash to bolster the areas that need it. Which is, in short, the entire defensive and holding midfield line. A front four of Kagawa, Mata, Rooney and Welbeck is clever enough, quick enough and fluid enough to trouble anyone, but it is worth nothing without six good men behind them to give them that licence. Currently Utd don’t have one good man (the possible exception of Darren Fletcher) but at least they know now what they’re capable of.
Some managers know their best eleven and others stumble upon it by accident owing to injury and suspension. The latter is true with Moyes, who has survived calls for his head to emerge unbeaten from three crucial league games and two Champions League ones. Key to the league wins have been the pairing of Kagawa and Mata in a fluid 4-2-3-1 with a central striker (either Rooney, Welbeck or Hernandez) creating space for them to work in by making runs beyond the defence. Kagawa was thought surplus to requirements following the arrival of Mata and the mystifying decision to give Rooney a new 5 year contract, but the Japanese international has been pivotal in three league games that have been won 10-1 by Utd. Mata, invisible on the right wing when Rooney and Van Persie were playing, has stepped inside to score 3 goals and set up 2 more in back to back games. Mata is a sham of a right winger and quite simply, has to play in this position going forward. More interesting though, is how well Kagawa has started to play with him. Mata is a similar player, all one touches and give and go’s and the two of them have dovetailed superbly to tear apart three teams who, let’s be fair, are kinda shit. It was clear to anyone before this that Utd’s best formation didn’t involve both Rooney and Van Persie, but it is surely clear to Moyes as well now. He has lacked the balls this year to formally state that, but if he is to remain in charge for next season, he could probably do worse than thank the Dutchman for two wonderful seasons and use the cash to bolster the areas that need it. Which is, in short, the entire defensive and holding midfield line. A front four of Kagawa, Mata, Rooney and Welbeck is clever enough, quick enough and fluid enough to trouble anyone, but it is worth nothing without six good men behind them to give them that licence. Currently Utd don’t have one good man (the possible exception of Darren Fletcher) but at least they know now what they’re capable of.
3. Fox is back on the
menu
Leicester stormed back to the Premier League this weekend, with six games to spare, after more than 10 years out of the top flight. The Foxes have been the best side in the Championship all season and have benefited from stability after years of change and uncertainty (Gary Megson anyone?). Their team is a mixture of youth and pace, combined with proven Championship experience. Keven Phillips for example, has now been promoted over 100 times. How Nigel Pearson’s side cope with the Premier League remains unclear. Leicester look a side that lack top level quality but that was true of the likes of both Swansea and Norwich who stayed up and established themselves. David Nugent has struggled in the Premier League before but at 28, is now in his peak. How him and Jamie Vardy, a striker who was playing non-league football two years ago, cope with the pace and the power of the top flight will go a long way to dictating Leicester’s chances. Let us hope the board give Pearson a chance. Rather than give him £30m to spend and sack him at Christmas for being only 17th.
Leicester stormed back to the Premier League this weekend, with six games to spare, after more than 10 years out of the top flight. The Foxes have been the best side in the Championship all season and have benefited from stability after years of change and uncertainty (Gary Megson anyone?). Their team is a mixture of youth and pace, combined with proven Championship experience. Keven Phillips for example, has now been promoted over 100 times. How Nigel Pearson’s side cope with the Premier League remains unclear. Leicester look a side that lack top level quality but that was true of the likes of both Swansea and Norwich who stayed up and established themselves. David Nugent has struggled in the Premier League before but at 28, is now in his peak. How him and Jamie Vardy, a striker who was playing non-league football two years ago, cope with the pace and the power of the top flight will go a long way to dictating Leicester’s chances. Let us hope the board give Pearson a chance. Rather than give him £30m to spend and sack him at Christmas for being only 17th.
4. Immortality is
yours Everton… take it!
There are six games left and Everton know that five wins and a draw will take them back into the Champions League. That is no easy feat, but if they play half as well as they did on Sunday that will be a formality. Martinez and his players were better than Arsenal in every single area of the park. They didn’t just outfight them, they outplayed them. Comprehensively. Ross Barkley, a player so direct you could name a rail route to London after him, ran with intelligence and purpose and the space he created was lapped up by Lukaku and Naysmith. They tore into a callow and leaderless Arsenal who were left to shooting from range and wondering how to pick themselves up after yet another away day slaughter to a rival. The Gunners have a semi-final this weekend against Wigan that they simply must win. Failure is not an option. If they end this season 5th and without the FA Cup, every single player of that squad, led by a manager who couldn’t motivate his way out of a workout video, needs to be lined up on the streets of North London. Naked. And be thrown rotten fruit at.
There are six games left and Everton know that five wins and a draw will take them back into the Champions League. That is no easy feat, but if they play half as well as they did on Sunday that will be a formality. Martinez and his players were better than Arsenal in every single area of the park. They didn’t just outfight them, they outplayed them. Comprehensively. Ross Barkley, a player so direct you could name a rail route to London after him, ran with intelligence and purpose and the space he created was lapped up by Lukaku and Naysmith. They tore into a callow and leaderless Arsenal who were left to shooting from range and wondering how to pick themselves up after yet another away day slaughter to a rival. The Gunners have a semi-final this weekend against Wigan that they simply must win. Failure is not an option. If they end this season 5th and without the FA Cup, every single player of that squad, led by a manager who couldn’t motivate his way out of a workout video, needs to be lined up on the streets of North London. Naked. And be thrown rotten fruit at.
5. Chris Hughton ha…
ah who am I kidding?
Nobody cares about Norwich, a team who have been so boring this season they’ve made West Ham look expansive. So instead let’s take a look at amusing videos of football stars hamming it up for advertisement money they simply don’t need. Seriously though, if you watch one, watch the Suarez one. They’re all gold, but you’re got to hand to him for that level of self-parody.
Jimmy Bullard Washes and Go – is this a parody? Is he taking the piss out the original advert? Or himself? Does he know how much of a wanker he looks?
Nobody cares about Norwich, a team who have been so boring this season they’ve made West Ham look expansive. So instead let’s take a look at amusing videos of football stars hamming it up for advertisement money they simply don’t need. Seriously though, if you watch one, watch the Suarez one. They’re all gold, but you’re got to hand to him for that level of self-parody.
Jimmy Bullard Washes and Go – is this a parody? Is he taking the piss out the original advert? Or himself? Does he know how much of a wanker he looks?
Figo isn’t a man – Seriously Figo? Did you really need
to “take care of yourself” by making this?
John Barnes pretends
to be Denzel – I know Barnsey always fancied himself as an actor, singer,
rapper whatever. But that fake panting? Dead god man.
Ade forgets to salute
– Oh my sweet Christ Emmanuel! The dance. The wink. The kiss??? What in hell
were you thinking.
Luis Suarez Gets an
Office job – Even in another language this is just hilarious. Fair play
Luis. You may be a twat, but at least you’re a self-aware one.
https://twitter.com/HinduMonkey
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