1. Chelsea are the new Arsenal
Anybody who thought AVB would be the new Jose was gravely mistaken. Other than his nationally and youthful good looks, the former and current Chelsea manager couldn’t differ more when it comes to their team ethos and set up. However, for all those who criticize Jose’s brand of anti-football, few can deny it gets results. Thus far AVB’s Chelsea have been pleasing on the eye, often charging forward like the light brigade in search of goals, but are making both individual and tactical errors at the back. Much like Arsenal then. David Luiz is so bad a defender he wouldn’t actually get in the Arsenal team; and John Obi Mikel is the worst midfielder in the premier league, his continued selection above anybody who can walk is an insult to football and all humanity in general. Around them Chelsea just don’t look interested in defending anymore and Cech is half the goalkeeper he was 5 years ago. Chelsea, like Utd have done, have to go back to basics and learn how to defend before they can consider anything else. At the moment they are playing worse than any team around them and don’t even have Robin Van Persie like Arsenal to win games on his own. All of that said though, AVB remains a breath of fresh air in his attitude and any decision to move him on after paying a ridiculous £13m release clause would smack of genuine madness from Abramovich. After all...
Anybody who thought AVB would be the new Jose was gravely mistaken. Other than his nationally and youthful good looks, the former and current Chelsea manager couldn’t differ more when it comes to their team ethos and set up. However, for all those who criticize Jose’s brand of anti-football, few can deny it gets results. Thus far AVB’s Chelsea have been pleasing on the eye, often charging forward like the light brigade in search of goals, but are making both individual and tactical errors at the back. Much like Arsenal then. David Luiz is so bad a defender he wouldn’t actually get in the Arsenal team; and John Obi Mikel is the worst midfielder in the premier league, his continued selection above anybody who can walk is an insult to football and all humanity in general. Around them Chelsea just don’t look interested in defending anymore and Cech is half the goalkeeper he was 5 years ago. Chelsea, like Utd have done, have to go back to basics and learn how to defend before they can consider anything else. At the moment they are playing worse than any team around them and don’t even have Robin Van Persie like Arsenal to win games on his own. All of that said though, AVB remains a breath of fresh air in his attitude and any decision to move him on after paying a ridiculous £13m release clause would smack of genuine madness from Abramovich. After all...
2. It’s becoming increasingly likely nobody can stop Man City.
As understatements go, Steve Mclaren’s at 4.50 on Saturday was right up there. “I think this result finally proves City have what it takes to compete for the title.” Ok then Steve... Having now scored a staggering 14 goals against the three teams closest to them in the league (including the two best defences) – the question isn’t whether City can win the title, it’s can anybody stop them winning it. City didn’t play well on Saturday and in reality haven’t played well since Old Trafford, but they’re not grinding out results by the odd goal, they’re banging in a minimum of 3 or 4 every single week. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool loom for them over the next few games but short of Van Persie and Suarez having a miracle match, it’s almost impossible to make a case for how any of those teams will beat them. If they don’t, and City get to the half way stage unbeaten and sitting pretty near the 50 point mark, then it’s probably time to start playing for 2nd for the foreseeable future.
As understatements go, Steve Mclaren’s at 4.50 on Saturday was right up there. “I think this result finally proves City have what it takes to compete for the title.” Ok then Steve... Having now scored a staggering 14 goals against the three teams closest to them in the league (including the two best defences) – the question isn’t whether City can win the title, it’s can anybody stop them winning it. City didn’t play well on Saturday and in reality haven’t played well since Old Trafford, but they’re not grinding out results by the odd goal, they’re banging in a minimum of 3 or 4 every single week. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool loom for them over the next few games but short of Van Persie and Suarez having a miracle match, it’s almost impossible to make a case for how any of those teams will beat them. If they don’t, and City get to the half way stage unbeaten and sitting pretty near the 50 point mark, then it’s probably time to start playing for 2nd for the foreseeable future.
3. Can Wigan play Blackburn every week?
Whilst both these teams look doomed to be relegated already, matched against each other this week saw their collective ineptitude level the playing field to create a fixture littered with rich comedy and entertainment. A 3 all thriller in every sense of the word, Wigan can certainly consider themselves unlucky after having a stonewall penalty turned down and having to watch in disbelief as Blackburn scored a goal that Yabuku and Pederson made no attempt to conceal the comedy of afterwards. Both defences went about things with the same casual disregard for their day jobs as they have all season and the drama wasn’t finished until the last kick of the game when Paul Robinson won a penalty with a courageous lunch into a Wigan boot. First class entertainment from two teams who probably won’t be all that missed when they slip into the Championship come May. Given Norwich, Swansea and QPR continue to play to sell out crowds each week, the 17,000 that watched this remains a pretty damning statement on how poorly supported both of these clubs are.
Whilst both these teams look doomed to be relegated already, matched against each other this week saw their collective ineptitude level the playing field to create a fixture littered with rich comedy and entertainment. A 3 all thriller in every sense of the word, Wigan can certainly consider themselves unlucky after having a stonewall penalty turned down and having to watch in disbelief as Blackburn scored a goal that Yabuku and Pederson made no attempt to conceal the comedy of afterwards. Both defences went about things with the same casual disregard for their day jobs as they have all season and the drama wasn’t finished until the last kick of the game when Paul Robinson won a penalty with a courageous lunch into a Wigan boot. First class entertainment from two teams who probably won’t be all that missed when they slip into the Championship come May. Given Norwich, Swansea and QPR continue to play to sell out crowds each week, the 17,000 that watched this remains a pretty damning statement on how poorly supported both of these clubs are.
4. Stoke look short of confidence.
I don’t like to write about Stoke too often as I feel it gives justification for allowing Tony Pulis to continue to live in a world which would be infinitely better off without his presence; but Stoke have for the most part been a very interesting addition to the league and have performed admirably. This season however it seems the dual pressures of Europe and the League are beginning to take their toll on Pulis’ smallish squad and Stoke looked out of sorts at the weekend against a QPR team far from full strength. It’s admiral that Stoke are taking the Europa seriously (unlike Harry Redknapp’s bunch of juvenile delinquents) – but they have to arrest their league form sharpish to stop them falling into the bottom 3 during the busy winter period. Away from home they’ve always been pretty average, but it’s their home form which will worry their mentally unstable manager the most. Previously a fortress, Stoke are conceding and losing games with alarming regularity and when you’re not picking up points, it becomes increasingly harder to get back to winning ways. It should probably be said that Stoke had a similar run this time last year and bounced back impressively, although none of that excuses Tony Pulis getting to breathe the same air as me each day...
I don’t like to write about Stoke too often as I feel it gives justification for allowing Tony Pulis to continue to live in a world which would be infinitely better off without his presence; but Stoke have for the most part been a very interesting addition to the league and have performed admirably. This season however it seems the dual pressures of Europe and the League are beginning to take their toll on Pulis’ smallish squad and Stoke looked out of sorts at the weekend against a QPR team far from full strength. It’s admiral that Stoke are taking the Europa seriously (unlike Harry Redknapp’s bunch of juvenile delinquents) – but they have to arrest their league form sharpish to stop them falling into the bottom 3 during the busy winter period. Away from home they’ve always been pretty average, but it’s their home form which will worry their mentally unstable manager the most. Previously a fortress, Stoke are conceding and losing games with alarming regularity and when you’re not picking up points, it becomes increasingly harder to get back to winning ways. It should probably be said that Stoke had a similar run this time last year and bounced back impressively, although none of that excuses Tony Pulis getting to breathe the same air as me each day...
5. What has happened to Tim Cahill?
In 2010 Tim Cahill scored more goals for Everton than Robin Van Persie did for Arsenal, even allowing for injuries. In 2011 Van Persie is the most prolific striker in the league whilst Cahill, has scored less goals than Phil Neville. Or indeed, anybody who has hit the net... at all. His barren run has now stretched to over 20 games and despite being moved back into his favoured number 10 position, the goals are still not coming. As Everton laboured to a home victory over Wolves on Saturday, Cahill needs to re-find his form and sharpish if the Toffees are going to climb up the table. At present Moyes is committing that most cardinal of sins and keeping somebody in the team based solely on his past achievements. Whilst the likes of Vellios, Rodwell, Osman, Saha & Drenthe all fight for a couple of spots, the time may well have come for Tim to be benched.
In 2010 Tim Cahill scored more goals for Everton than Robin Van Persie did for Arsenal, even allowing for injuries. In 2011 Van Persie is the most prolific striker in the league whilst Cahill, has scored less goals than Phil Neville. Or indeed, anybody who has hit the net... at all. His barren run has now stretched to over 20 games and despite being moved back into his favoured number 10 position, the goals are still not coming. As Everton laboured to a home victory over Wolves on Saturday, Cahill needs to re-find his form and sharpish if the Toffees are going to climb up the table. At present Moyes is committing that most cardinal of sins and keeping somebody in the team based solely on his past achievements. Whilst the likes of Vellios, Rodwell, Osman, Saha & Drenthe all fight for a couple of spots, the time may well have come for Tim to be benched.
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