Fox Hunting continues to be banned
Five points clear at the top of the table with 13 games left
to play, Leicester City are not in a bubble that is about to burst, they are
the most consistent team in the league and are top by merit. Their
extraordinary success despite not caring about possession or passing is a
product of both having a plan and regimentally sticking to it; and of the
continued arrogance of many of their opponents who refuse to counter their
obvious attacking abilities. Leicester City defend like Lions and attack like
they’ve just been released from the cage. The way Mahrez skipped past the City
defence for his goal was a joy to behold. His mesmeric drop of the shoulder a
lesson to any footballer on the planet about how to beat at man running at pace.
Mahrez has already scored and assisted the same number of goals that Hazard did
on his way to the player of the year award, and he remains locked in a two
way tussle with Jamie Vardy for the gong this time around. The top four all
play each other this weekend in what is shaping up to be a truly brilliant
title race in an otherwise average season. People are still expecting Leicester
and Spurs to come unstuck, but if they both get even draws this weekend it will
be hard to bet against the most unlikely top two in the modern era. City and
Arsenal have the squads and the talent, but as the week’s move on, it’s
becoming increasingly clear neither have the mental toughness or the
togetherness of this remarkable Leicester City team.
Mark Albrighton and Danny Simpson with a Premier League winner’s
medal? It really is time to dare to dream. Come on Foxes!
(the Hindu Monkey would like to state he remains wholly impartial)
How is Klopp going to sort this mess out?
It’s hard to think of a more inconsistent team in the whole
of English football right now than Liverpool. Capable of rampant attacking
football and high pressing one minute, and lame insipid probing football the
next. This is a team that can look like they could play for ten hours and not
concede, and then let the opposition score twice in a minute. Clearly this season
is a write off regarding a Champions League return, so the question now turns
to how Klopp can turn this rabble into a proper team next season. Well he could
start by buying a striker that fits his system, given Sturridge is made of
glass and Benteke clearly not trusted. Firmino is a fine player, but a number
nine he is not and you have to think that a roving three of Firmino, Coutinho
and Lallana (with two of Lucas/Henderson/Milner/Can sitting) would work best
behind a highly mobile attacker who stretched defences and created space for them
to run in to. Robert Lewandowski for example. To name one player entirely at
random who Liverpool will never, ever sign. The main problem though continues
to be a back line who seem incapable of going ninety minutes without making at
least one absolute howler. Clyne is a shadow of the player we saw for
Southampton and seems to be still getting picked owing to lack of alternatives.
Lovren and Sakho are both injury prone, even if the latter has the ability to
grow into a fine player alongside a more experienced partner. It was perhaps
hoped that Martin Skertel could be that partner. But that is clearly nonsense,
as he’s rubbish. Although he’s still better than Kolo Toure, who is 34 going on
54 and has the turning circle of a bulldozer. And then there is Alberto Moreno,
who blasted Brendan Rodgers for not picking him on his departure, and has then since
showed exactly why Rodgers didn’t pick him in every game since. It’s no point
being a marauding full back Alberto if a) you can’t finish your breakfast and
b) you defend like headless chicken.
I can’t even be bothered to mention Simon Mignolet. Well I
can, so consider this. If Simon Mignolet had made no errors this season; and I’m
not even talking about saves he perhaps could have made, I’m talking about the
9 (NINE) howlers he has made… Liverpool would be 2nd.
Oh what’s that? You’ve just given him a 5 year contract? That
makes sense. Does he have the same agent as Nani…
Raheem Sterling’s price tag is a disgrace
If there is one thing this season has done, it is highlight more than ever the ridiculously inflated price tags that teams now pay for fashionable players. Nobody has been more guilty of this than Manchester City, who have paid out an astonishing £115m for the trio of Otamendi, Mangala and Sterling. They may all yet improve obviously, although I’m not sure Mangala will, but those price tags have to be called into question when you consider Spurs paid £11m for Toby Alderweireld. But let’s park everything else for a second and consider the £49m they paid for Sterling. For that price tag, given Sterling is not new to the league, you would expect someone to come in, hit the ground running and help propel the most expensively assembled squad in Europe to the title. Well Sterling has hit the ground running… but that is all he’s done. You can run Raheem, but you can’t hide… or in this case, actually contribute to the team by way of goals or creativity. Sterling has 5 goals and 3 assists this season, numbers swelled by a hat trick of taps ins against an injury ravaged Bournemouth. Even considering that anomaly, that is a goal involvement of one every 200 minutes. Which for a 50 million player in a 4-3-3 and the best striker in the league up front is pretty pathetic. Without that hat trick, it’s a goal involvement of one every 313 minutes. Which is as bad as any attacking player in the top ten. Beyond the stats though, Sterling is currently offering nothing to City’s attack. He doesn’t stretch the opposition like he at least did in his first few games and is regularly replaced at half time if things aren’t working. His manager clearly doesn’t trust him, because he’s a bit naff. He’s favoured Jesus Navas above him for much of the last few months, who hasn’t scored in over 80 matches. Sterling may yet prove me wrong, but right now he looks like someone who had one outstanding season because anyone who plays alongside the mercurial Luis Suarez looks about 50% better than they actually are. He might be better than Nathan Dyer… but right now he certainly isn’t better than Mark Albrighton. Over to you Pep…
If there is one thing this season has done, it is highlight more than ever the ridiculously inflated price tags that teams now pay for fashionable players. Nobody has been more guilty of this than Manchester City, who have paid out an astonishing £115m for the trio of Otamendi, Mangala and Sterling. They may all yet improve obviously, although I’m not sure Mangala will, but those price tags have to be called into question when you consider Spurs paid £11m for Toby Alderweireld. But let’s park everything else for a second and consider the £49m they paid for Sterling. For that price tag, given Sterling is not new to the league, you would expect someone to come in, hit the ground running and help propel the most expensively assembled squad in Europe to the title. Well Sterling has hit the ground running… but that is all he’s done. You can run Raheem, but you can’t hide… or in this case, actually contribute to the team by way of goals or creativity. Sterling has 5 goals and 3 assists this season, numbers swelled by a hat trick of taps ins against an injury ravaged Bournemouth. Even considering that anomaly, that is a goal involvement of one every 200 minutes. Which for a 50 million player in a 4-3-3 and the best striker in the league up front is pretty pathetic. Without that hat trick, it’s a goal involvement of one every 313 minutes. Which is as bad as any attacking player in the top ten. Beyond the stats though, Sterling is currently offering nothing to City’s attack. He doesn’t stretch the opposition like he at least did in his first few games and is regularly replaced at half time if things aren’t working. His manager clearly doesn’t trust him, because he’s a bit naff. He’s favoured Jesus Navas above him for much of the last few months, who hasn’t scored in over 80 matches. Sterling may yet prove me wrong, but right now he looks like someone who had one outstanding season because anyone who plays alongside the mercurial Luis Suarez looks about 50% better than they actually are. He might be better than Nathan Dyer… but right now he certainly isn’t better than Mark Albrighton. Over to you Pep…
Can Villa escape?
Just one defeat in five, with three clean sheets and now looking like a formidable force at home again. Villa didn’t even lose to Leicester. They’re just nine points clear of safety. Can they survive? Can they somehow finish above one of Newcastle, Bournemouth and Swansea?
Just one defeat in five, with three clean sheets and now looking like a formidable force at home again. Villa didn’t even lose to Leicester. They’re just nine points clear of safety. Can they survive? Can they somehow finish above one of Newcastle, Bournemouth and Swansea?
No, no they can’t. But it’s quite entertaining to see that
glimmer of false hope in their fan’s eyes.
Enjoy the Championship lads. You’re going to be in it for a
looooong time.
What has happened to Stoke?
Since a magical December where Stoke’s attacking players tore into Manchester City, United and Everton, scoring eight goals in three impressive wins, the Potters seem to have sustained a ridiculously long New Year hangover. They have played six league games since then, winning just once against a free-falling Norwich and have just been beaten three nil by Leciester, Man United and now Everton in succession. Ryan Shawcross is clearly a miss, the Potter’s have the best defensive record in the league when he’s been fit and one of the worst when he hasn’t. But that doesn’t excuse how bad they’ve been up front of late, barely threatening at all against an Everton side who love conceding almost as much as scoring. Hughes remains a curious manager, capable of producing thrilling teams who can compete with the best one minute and then apparently struggling to motivate his sides for long stretches. In a highly competitive and random season, Stoke need to rally to ensure they are not forgotten about and lost in a tiny mid-table bubble occupied by just themselves, Crystal Palace… and a small club called Chelsea.
Since a magical December where Stoke’s attacking players tore into Manchester City, United and Everton, scoring eight goals in three impressive wins, the Potters seem to have sustained a ridiculously long New Year hangover. They have played six league games since then, winning just once against a free-falling Norwich and have just been beaten three nil by Leciester, Man United and now Everton in succession. Ryan Shawcross is clearly a miss, the Potter’s have the best defensive record in the league when he’s been fit and one of the worst when he hasn’t. But that doesn’t excuse how bad they’ve been up front of late, barely threatening at all against an Everton side who love conceding almost as much as scoring. Hughes remains a curious manager, capable of producing thrilling teams who can compete with the best one minute and then apparently struggling to motivate his sides for long stretches. In a highly competitive and random season, Stoke need to rally to ensure they are not forgotten about and lost in a tiny mid-table bubble occupied by just themselves, Crystal Palace… and a small club called Chelsea.
Team of the Weak
Mignolet – Presumably he thought the game ended at 77 minutes as well?
Moreno – A genuine disgrace of a defender
Bassong – I’m not even sure he is a defender
Muniesa – Not Ryan Shawcross
Demichelis – Rubbish
McClean – 2 goals and 2 assist is rubbish James. Even playing for a Tony Pulis side. Do you even know how to cross a ball?
Arnautovic – Looks to already be thinking about who he’s going to play for next season
Fabregas – An absolute shadow of his former self
Sterling – Here’s a blind alley! Let me run in to it! Please! It’s mine, all mine!!
Giroud – It beggars belief about how Arsenal still haven’t bought a striker who can finish consistently all the chances they create
Anichebe – Jamie Vardy has scored more goals this season than Anichebe has in seven years
What you may have missed
The Superbowl. The main event of a sport so boring that tweets about the half time show outnumbered those about the actual match three to one.
The Superbowl. The main event of a sport so boring that tweets about the half time show outnumbered those about the actual match three to one.
The team that won had 11 first down’s. 11? In what, seven hours?
It’s worse than watching West Brom.
https://twitter.com/HinduMonkey
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