1. Godspeed Gary
Yesterdays games were inevitably overshadowed by the news of Gary Speed’s sudden death. As the details behind his passing remained completely unclear, a wave of shock passed through football as the sport said goodbye to a hugely likeable character. A genuine Premier League legend, only his fellow countryman and friend Ryan Giggs has stopped Speed from holding several records for his longevity in the top flight. A loyal and reliable pro wherever he went, Speed’s death couldn’t come at a worse time for Wales, who finally looked to had turned the corner with a squad centred around its cluster of new young stars. Ultimately though for all the superlatives that have poured in since his death, thoughts turn to his family. One hopes that the media gives them the privacy and respect they deserve over the coming weeks.
Yesterdays games were inevitably overshadowed by the news of Gary Speed’s sudden death. As the details behind his passing remained completely unclear, a wave of shock passed through football as the sport said goodbye to a hugely likeable character. A genuine Premier League legend, only his fellow countryman and friend Ryan Giggs has stopped Speed from holding several records for his longevity in the top flight. A loyal and reliable pro wherever he went, Speed’s death couldn’t come at a worse time for Wales, who finally looked to had turned the corner with a squad centred around its cluster of new young stars. Ultimately though for all the superlatives that have poured in since his death, thoughts turn to his family. One hopes that the media gives them the privacy and respect they deserve over the coming weeks.
2. Gareth Bale might be quite good after all
After last year’s absurd hyperbole based on two good performances, I was the first person to criticize Gareth Bale and accuse him of lacking consistency. This season, consistency has been has middle name and he has been instrumental in Spurs march up the table since those opening fixtures. Redknapp is playing on the counter away from home and when you have wingers such as Lennon and Bale who can carry the ball 40 yards in about 3 seconds; it’s easy to see why Spurs sit deservedly in 3rd place looking upwards, not downwards on the league. Bale has scored or created 10 league goals already this season, just 4 away from his total figure last time around. He is playing with the energy and enthusiasm we expected but his delivery has been consistent and he has become much more intelligent in his running. He’s not Lionel Messi, but the claim that he is the best left sided midfielder in the world now doesn’t look quite as absurd as it was a year ago.
After last year’s absurd hyperbole based on two good performances, I was the first person to criticize Gareth Bale and accuse him of lacking consistency. This season, consistency has been has middle name and he has been instrumental in Spurs march up the table since those opening fixtures. Redknapp is playing on the counter away from home and when you have wingers such as Lennon and Bale who can carry the ball 40 yards in about 3 seconds; it’s easy to see why Spurs sit deservedly in 3rd place looking upwards, not downwards on the league. Bale has scored or created 10 league goals already this season, just 4 away from his total figure last time around. He is playing with the energy and enthusiasm we expected but his delivery has been consistent and he has become much more intelligent in his running. He’s not Lionel Messi, but the claim that he is the best left sided midfielder in the world now doesn’t look quite as absurd as it was a year ago.
3. Alan Shearer is getting worse
I for one didn’t think it was possible, but Alan Shearer managed to sink to even lower depths on Match of the Day Saturday night as his usual banal punditry descended into utter gibberish. In his defence, he could well have been put off by Mark Lawrenson’s incomprehensively sinister beard or Gary Lineker’s “ode to paedophiles” moustache. Either way, upon being asked to provide “analysis” on a match Shearer continued to stumble over his words, regularly losing his train of thought and at one point when describing a play just cutting himself off with the words “and he’s right.” Who’s right Alan? Not you that’s for sure... and certainly not the BBC who continue to pay money to have the equivalent of an untrained chimp providing comment on premier league football matches.
I for one didn’t think it was possible, but Alan Shearer managed to sink to even lower depths on Match of the Day Saturday night as his usual banal punditry descended into utter gibberish. In his defence, he could well have been put off by Mark Lawrenson’s incomprehensively sinister beard or Gary Lineker’s “ode to paedophiles” moustache. Either way, upon being asked to provide “analysis” on a match Shearer continued to stumble over his words, regularly losing his train of thought and at one point when describing a play just cutting himself off with the words “and he’s right.” Who’s right Alan? Not you that’s for sure... and certainly not the BBC who continue to pay money to have the equivalent of an untrained chimp providing comment on premier league football matches.
4. The sack race is on
December is not a good month to be a football manager. Far from looking forward to Christmas like most people, this is the season when Chairmen get itchy fingers and wonder if somebody else could do a better job with the January transfer window looming. Steve Keen remains the bookies favourite to get the chop first, based largely on him lacking any ability whatsoever to manage a football club. Behind him though, the axe hangs over Martinez, AVB, Mick McCarthy, Owen Coyle and, certainly after Saturday’s result, Steve Bruce. Losing at home to Wigan is justification for getting sacked on its own and Steve Bruce’s 3rd new team in 3 years at Sunderland has failed to gel in any way since the summer. With new owners in charge he needs to turn things around quickly or it will be him getting the p45 in his stocking this year. Which will at least make a change from his usual tactic of chirping on about loyalty and then leaving for a “bigger club.”
December is not a good month to be a football manager. Far from looking forward to Christmas like most people, this is the season when Chairmen get itchy fingers and wonder if somebody else could do a better job with the January transfer window looming. Steve Keen remains the bookies favourite to get the chop first, based largely on him lacking any ability whatsoever to manage a football club. Behind him though, the axe hangs over Martinez, AVB, Mick McCarthy, Owen Coyle and, certainly after Saturday’s result, Steve Bruce. Losing at home to Wigan is justification for getting sacked on its own and Steve Bruce’s 3rd new team in 3 years at Sunderland has failed to gel in any way since the summer. With new owners in charge he needs to turn things around quickly or it will be him getting the p45 in his stocking this year. Which will at least make a change from his usual tactic of chirping on about loyalty and then leaving for a “bigger club.”
5. Man City are beatable
Liverpool didn’t actually win yesterday, failing to silence my blog article from last week and indeed make the title of this point a touch questionable, but they deserved to take all three points and were only a Joe Hart wonder save away from doing so. What would please their fellow title challengers the most was that City still look like a team who struggle when faced with a setback. The midweek result seemed to hang over them for much of this game and Liverpool dominated the second half and Adam and Levia completely controlled the midfield. Indeed, if Daglish had perhaps opted for Maxi, Spearing or my Nan over the invisible Jordan Henderson and perennially useless Stuart Downing, Pool could have capitalised on their good work and made away with the win. As it is City played poorly and still came away with a point in one of the hardest fixtures in the calendar. Whilst somebody is still going to have to beat them to create any sort of a genuine title race, that feat now at least looks achievable again.
Liverpool didn’t actually win yesterday, failing to silence my blog article from last week and indeed make the title of this point a touch questionable, but they deserved to take all three points and were only a Joe Hart wonder save away from doing so. What would please their fellow title challengers the most was that City still look like a team who struggle when faced with a setback. The midweek result seemed to hang over them for much of this game and Liverpool dominated the second half and Adam and Levia completely controlled the midfield. Indeed, if Daglish had perhaps opted for Maxi, Spearing or my Nan over the invisible Jordan Henderson and perennially useless Stuart Downing, Pool could have capitalised on their good work and made away with the win. As it is City played poorly and still came away with a point in one of the hardest fixtures in the calendar. Whilst somebody is still going to have to beat them to create any sort of a genuine title race, that feat now at least looks achievable again.
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