Ozil is finally stepping up
Arsenal fans could be forgiven for thinking they were better off without Mesut Ozil this season. The team largely played well during his lengthy spell on the touchlines and the form of Sanchez and Cazorla cast doubt on where he would fit in upon his return. Wenger has never lost faith in his central playmaker though, even if at times the fans have. He restored Ozil to the team immediately following his return and has since built a creative 4-2-3-1 around him. Since returning he has been imperious. 3 goals and 5 assists in 8 matches, stats bettered only by Giroud over that period. But more than simple numbers, Ozil has dictated the tempo of matches. The great thing about Ozil, is that he’s probably the only Arsenal player who doesn’t really need a lot of space to work in. Arsenal remain a lethal passing unit if given time and space, but they have consistently struggled when pressed and harassed. Ozil seems to know where everyone on the pitch is at any given time and his short, one touch passing is as good as anyone in the game. Questioned about Ozil’s errant passing last season Wenger lamented that it wasn’t that his passes were bad, but actually too good. That his team mates weren’t capable of making the same decisions that he were. This time around, Ozil has returned to a fluid Arsenal side with Cazorla and the world class Alexis Sanchez at the top of their game. The flicks are coming off, the through balls are threading the needles and the confidence and goals are beginning to come as well. Ozil isn’t just a flair player either, he has ran more than any midfielder in the league since returning from injury. He has gained weight, is considerably harder to knock off the ball and is finally delivering in the bigger matches as well. This isn’t just a phase. This is the real Mesut Ozil, and it’s probably time we gave him the credit he deserves.
West Brom are not there yet
As shocks go, losing 4-1 at home to the worst away team in the league was right up there. But the most disturbing thing about this performance for West Brom fans, was the way they approached the match in general. The baggies were casual, pedestrian and appeared to have turned up for a training match rather than a relegation scrap. They were toothless up front and error strewn in defence. Even when they finally did wake up in the second half, they contrived to miss a series of superb chances before conceding one of the worst goals you’re likely to see all season. West Brom are far from safe and injuries are mounting up at the wrong time for Tony Pulis. They probably only need two wins from the last seven to be safe, but given their run in includes Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea, next weeks match up with Leicester looks crucial. Their fans will be praying they don’t approach the game in the same light again.
Rodgers remains the right man for Liverpool
In football, you’re only as good as you’re last result. With managers that is certainly true and it remains preposterous to me how stock can rise and fall after just a few games. Two weeks ago Rodgers was reborn having transformed Liverpool’s season. Unbeaten since Christmas, Pool had added defensive resilience to attacking thrust and in Coutinho possessed the best young midfielder in the league. Back to back defeats against Utd and Arsenal have changed all that. Liverpool now look out of the race for 4th and look set to battle Spurs and Saints for a Europa league spot. But is that really so bad an effort for an incredibly young squad who sold their best player in the summer? Liverpool could still win the FA cup and it’s hard to see how that plus a Europa league place should be considered a failure for Rodgers. Regardless of what happens between now and May, Rodgers is the right man for Liverpool. He is a young, forward thinking coach and wants to stay and build a legacy. His handling of young players has been exceptional, even if his signings of established stars has not. Rodgers possesses just the right amount of arrogance to be a boss at club like Liverpool but is also unflinchingly honest. He does not provide excuses about how a club of such supposed stature “deserve to be up there” and he is much more intelligent than people give him credit for. He has time for people in and around the club and given the obvious lack of availability of Pep, Carlo, Jose and Diego (surely the top four managers currently working) it’s hard to see how Liverpool can do much better by replacing him in the summer. Players will still come to Liverpool because of their history, and their fans will never stop believing. Whilst it’s amusing to see yet another season crash against the rocks, none of that changes the fact that Liverpool have the right man at the helm for the future.
Newcastle fans should be careful what they wish for
The Tyne-Tear derby ended this evening with Newcastle on the end of another limp defeat, the sort of which has come to define the era of Mike Ashley. Newcastle are not going to get relegated, and whilst their fans may yearn for the days of Keegan, Shearer and Rob Lee, the cold hard facts are that they are a mid table, Premier League club and their owner knows this. Newcastle have never really looked like getting relegated since they burst back up from the Championship five seasons ago. Unbeaten it has to said with a simply ridiculous 102 points.. They have finished 12th, 5th, 16th, 10th and are currently 13th this time around. Ashley does not have the money to get Newcastle into the top four, or even the current top six. But he does have an excellent scouting network, a realistic wage structure and isn’t really bothered about who manages the club as long as they do enough to keep the team in the division. Newcastle fans continue to call for his head but should be careful what they wish for. The club would just as likely crumble and plummet as it would soar and the fear is a Wigan or Blackburn scenario where the momentum is only in one direction until the club bottoms out and has to start again. Newcastle are not a big club, they just have a big stadium. They have not won a major trophy for SIXTY years. Only two clubs in the Premier League have gone that long without a trophy. Palace and Hull, neither of which have won anything. If you include Championship teams only a handful more names are added to the mix. Swindon, Wolves, Norwich, Oxford, Luton, Middlesborough, Portsmouth and Birmingham just some of the illustrious names who have tasted silverware more recently than Geordies.
Newcastle are, to a certain extent, a club which now exists as a result of the television money. They merely need to stay in the league to keep things going and you cannot blame their owner for ensuring that is the priority over anything else. It may not be very interesting to watch, and it won’t sell a lot of season tickets. But Newcastle aren’t going anyway, and neither is Mike Ashley.
Bafetimbi Gomis can never be allowed to score again
Seriously, that celebration can’t be seen anywhere, ever... and I mean ever again. I mean it made Charlie Adam doing a half robot dance look good. Somebody needs to have a word. The FA need to write it in as a straight red. There is quite literally nothing to take the shine off a two goal haul than the sight of a man on all fours prowling towards the fans like a feral cat. I don’t even know what animal he is supposed to be. I don’t want to know. I just want it to stop.
Team of the Weak
Myhil - Conceded 7 goals in two matches. Was all over the place positionally. Doesn’t seem to able to organise a defence in any way, shape or form.
Can - Awful tackle for the second yellow, lost his head and left his team with no competent defenders for crucial FA cup replay.
Lescott - Absolutely toilet.
Toure - Absolutely toilet, with a floater.
Bruce - Stop. Playing. Your. Son. Steve.
Lucas - Played off the park by Ozil and looked badly out of sorts.
Eriksen - Utterly invisible. When he’s good he’s a joy to watch, but so frustrating when he plays like this.
Colback - An unhappy return to Sunderland and lucky to stay on the pitch.
Elia - Looked appalling. Appears to be a downgrade in every way from the players Saints already had in his position.
Ideye - Missed 81 chances and looked like he was going to cry.
Pelle - Only you can take yourself out of this team son. Only you. 1173 minutes...
What you may have missed
Crash. Bang. Wallop. What a fucking goal Charlie Adam. Bobby Zamora’s outrageous finish for QPR. The sound of Manchester United clicking with spanish midfield locksmiths. Diego Costa saying goodbye to this seasons golden boot. Any Newcastle player attempting a shot within the first hour at the Stadium of Light. Leicester giving themselves hope. Burnley giving themselves hope. Hull and Aston Villa suddenly shitting themselves. And Everton. Yeah, Everton. Christ they’ve had a dull league season haven’t they? Does Ross Barkley still play for them or is he just an England specialist like Andros Townsend now? Anyway, let’s give Martinez another year. He’s a likeable chap. And he might just escape from Alcaraz given time...
https://twitter.com/HinduMonkey
No comments:
Post a Comment