It’s Sunday... and all the gloves are very much still on.
Two games, one goal and the three best players at Anfield and the Britannia were all stood between the posts. David de Gea has become long accustomed to being United’s best player in drab performances. But even if Van Gaal’s side gave, in many senses, a perfect away performance, they were still indebted to their keeper to make two outstanding saves. Jack Butland continues to breath down Joe Hart’s neck in the England set up; and it’s no surprise with yet another display like this. His two saves, both from Giroud, were absolute world class and ones he had no right to make. Saving the best until last though, was Petr Cech. He was the best player on the park at teatime and Arsenal can thank him directly for walking away with a point. He made a string of superb saves and his presence and personality are something that has been missing from the Arsenal side for several seasons. If Arsenal do win the title this year, given what has gone on at Chelsea, his move across London after being surplus to requirements under Jose must rank as one of the most disastrously successful transfers in league history.
Swansea are in real trouble.
After steadying the ship and getting the job on a full time basis, Alan Curtis has seen his side knocked out of the FA Cup to lower league opposition and be battered at home by Sunderland. All be it in a match featuring some of the more bizarre decisions of the season. Tomorrow’s match up with Watford suddenly looks incredibly must win. They are the bottom three and this is the sort of match you simply have to win if you’re in a relegation fight. With Villa cut adrift despite a so late it’s almost ironic attempt at a comeback, Swansea need to make sure they are in the pack above them alongside Norwich, Newcastle, Bournemouth and, inexplicably, still Chelsea. Swansea can pass the ball well and defend when they need to, so it’s at the top end of the pitch where there problems lie. Gomis has done nothing since the opening month and with Ayew preferring a deeper role and blowing hot and cold like a gasket, Swansea could do a lot worse than finding a cheap, reliable source of goals in the transfer market. Charlie Austin for example, to name somebody at complete random. Oh... wait.
After steadying the ship and getting the job on a full time basis, Alan Curtis has seen his side knocked out of the FA Cup to lower league opposition and be battered at home by Sunderland. All be it in a match featuring some of the more bizarre decisions of the season. Tomorrow’s match up with Watford suddenly looks incredibly must win. They are the bottom three and this is the sort of match you simply have to win if you’re in a relegation fight. With Villa cut adrift despite a so late it’s almost ironic attempt at a comeback, Swansea need to make sure they are in the pack above them alongside Norwich, Newcastle, Bournemouth and, inexplicably, still Chelsea. Swansea can pass the ball well and defend when they need to, so it’s at the top end of the pitch where there problems lie. Gomis has done nothing since the opening month and with Ayew preferring a deeper role and blowing hot and cold like a gasket, Swansea could do a lot worse than finding a cheap, reliable source of goals in the transfer market. Charlie Austin for example, to name somebody at complete random. Oh... wait.
Can Spurs challenge for the title?
Five points off the top, Spurs lie in fourth with Manchester United breathing down their neck for the last Champions League place. If they have any sense though, Mauricio Pochettino’s troops should be looking upwards not behind them over the coming game weeks. Spurs play a crumbling Palace, an ailing Norwich and an increasingly stumbling Watford before rocking up at the Etihad on Valentines Day. That game could easily be a winner goes first fixture with the Foxes finally running out of puff and Arsenal having two of their bogey fixtures (Chelsea/Saints) up next. If that is the case one hopes Spurs have the gumption to truly go for it. Their team is packed with talent and youthful abandon and they have been drilled brilliantly by their manager, without sacrificing entertainment (Van Gaal) or a mounting injury crises (Klopp). This is easily the best Spurs side since the Premier League began and the team should truly believe they have a chance at something very special.
Five points off the top, Spurs lie in fourth with Manchester United breathing down their neck for the last Champions League place. If they have any sense though, Mauricio Pochettino’s troops should be looking upwards not behind them over the coming game weeks. Spurs play a crumbling Palace, an ailing Norwich and an increasingly stumbling Watford before rocking up at the Etihad on Valentines Day. That game could easily be a winner goes first fixture with the Foxes finally running out of puff and Arsenal having two of their bogey fixtures (Chelsea/Saints) up next. If that is the case one hopes Spurs have the gumption to truly go for it. Their team is packed with talent and youthful abandon and they have been drilled brilliantly by their manager, without sacrificing entertainment (Van Gaal) or a mounting injury crises (Klopp). This is easily the best Spurs side since the Premier League began and the team should truly believe they have a chance at something very special.
You know, and not listen to such factual claims that Leicester have been top for longer this season that Spurs have since 1992. In total...
Martinez should be rotated to every club on a seasonal basis.
You just have to love Roberto Martinez. His sides play great football, merging an easy on the eye passing style with swift, counter attacking menace. He’s incredibly affable and almost impossible to dislike. And he has absolutely no idea how to defend a lead whatsoever. As such games involving his sides tend to be riotously entertaining affairs with goals and reckless abandon. Purists may argue about the ridiculously naivety of their 3 all draw with Chelsea this week; or complain that England’s Brave John Terry scored the winner from an offside position in the 278th minute of injury time. But I prefer to focus on the romance of the match, most of which was created by Martinez and his sides brilliance and folly. Come on... let’s all give him a chance to manage our teams for a season, putting a smile back on the season ticket holders faces again, before being gently moved on to let somebody capable of actually progressing a football club take the helm.
You just have to love Roberto Martinez. His sides play great football, merging an easy on the eye passing style with swift, counter attacking menace. He’s incredibly affable and almost impossible to dislike. And he has absolutely no idea how to defend a lead whatsoever. As such games involving his sides tend to be riotously entertaining affairs with goals and reckless abandon. Purists may argue about the ridiculously naivety of their 3 all draw with Chelsea this week; or complain that England’s Brave John Terry scored the winner from an offside position in the 278th minute of injury time. But I prefer to focus on the romance of the match, most of which was created by Martinez and his sides brilliance and folly. Come on... let’s all give him a chance to manage our teams for a season, putting a smile back on the season ticket holders faces again, before being gently moved on to let somebody capable of actually progressing a football club take the helm.
#robertoforeveryone
Something about Sunderland
Um... yeah... I’ve got nothing. I mean... it never changes does it. We all know they’ll finish 17th, spend £100m on another new eleven, sack their manager in November and start the whole process all over again. I mean, at least Newcastle keep us guessing...
Um... yeah... I’ve got nothing. I mean... it never changes does it. We all know they’ll finish 17th, spend £100m on another new eleven, sack their manager in November and start the whole process all over again. I mean, at least Newcastle keep us guessing...
Team of the Weak
Hennessey - from howler to hammering.
O’Shea - needs to be put out to pasture.
O’Shea - needs to be put out to pasture.
Jagielka - should be in here for a week for the Costa goal alone.
Dawson - arguably his worst ever game for the club. Was torn apart by a child.
Collins - I love Collins. He looks unbeatable for a month and then plays like this. Without Adrian this may have been ten in truth.
Dawson - arguably his worst ever game for the club. Was torn apart by a child.
Collins - I love Collins. He looks unbeatable for a month and then plays like this. Without Adrian this may have been ten in truth.
Ledley - Utterly outclassed.
Rodwell - belongs in the Championship.
Veretout - belongs in the Conference.
Anichebe - belongs in the Park.
Berahino - what has happened to him? Does nobody want to buy him? I mean he’s clearly not shit? But when you’re the fourth choice striker under Tony Pulis it’s probably time to shoot yourself.
Rodwell - belongs in the Championship.
Veretout - belongs in the Conference.
Anichebe - belongs in the Park.
Berahino - what has happened to him? Does nobody want to buy him? I mean he’s clearly not shit? But when you’re the fourth choice striker under Tony Pulis it’s probably time to shoot yourself.
Wickham - Translation for strikers who “put themselves about” or are a “nuisance” always, always means they don’t actually score goals. Expect Diego Costa.
What you may have missed
A lot of very talented and likeable people dying, minus temperatures and rising energy prices, war, our awful government. It’s been a tough week out there folks. Hold each other tight, keep yourselves warm and for all that is sacred in this world... never, ever play fantasy football.
A lot of very talented and likeable people dying, minus temperatures and rising energy prices, war, our awful government. It’s been a tough week out there folks. Hold each other tight, keep yourselves warm and for all that is sacred in this world... never, ever play fantasy football.
One love.
https://twitter.com/HinduMonkey
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