1. Liverpool are out of line
Whatever you think of the decision by the FA to ban Luiz Suarez, it is clear to all concerned that this is a delicate case centred around an important and sensitive issue. Liverpool’s reaction to rally around their player in public is fine, but not to the extent of wearing t-shirts which not only support their player but effectively say they don’t accept the FA’s decision in any way. And all this before the written reason for the ban has even been given. Pool and in particular Dalglish are treading very dangerously here, their actions are very close to saying “it’s ok to say racist comments, if you don’t think they’re offensive.” Were all those players really comfortable with the action taking? Luis Suarez is accused and charged with racially insulting Patrice Evra, which isn’t actually the same as being a racist. Indeed, Evra himself, despite countless and made up allegations that he has “history” at this commented last week that he “didn’t think Suarez was a racist, merely that his comments were unacceptable.” All Liverpool and Dalglish have done is tried to turn it around to make Evra the villain and set a dangerous precedent for how clubs tackle racism. The rift between the two clubs now has no chance of being healed anytime soon and the repercussions could be even further reaching. Suarez is probably guilty of no more than being a complete idiot, but Liverpool are now guilty of much more and without evidence. And on a final word on the subject, can somebody seriously shut Gus Poyet the hell up.
Whatever you think of the decision by the FA to ban Luiz Suarez, it is clear to all concerned that this is a delicate case centred around an important and sensitive issue. Liverpool’s reaction to rally around their player in public is fine, but not to the extent of wearing t-shirts which not only support their player but effectively say they don’t accept the FA’s decision in any way. And all this before the written reason for the ban has even been given. Pool and in particular Dalglish are treading very dangerously here, their actions are very close to saying “it’s ok to say racist comments, if you don’t think they’re offensive.” Were all those players really comfortable with the action taking? Luis Suarez is accused and charged with racially insulting Patrice Evra, which isn’t actually the same as being a racist. Indeed, Evra himself, despite countless and made up allegations that he has “history” at this commented last week that he “didn’t think Suarez was a racist, merely that his comments were unacceptable.” All Liverpool and Dalglish have done is tried to turn it around to make Evra the villain and set a dangerous precedent for how clubs tackle racism. The rift between the two clubs now has no chance of being healed anytime soon and the repercussions could be even further reaching. Suarez is probably guilty of no more than being a complete idiot, but Liverpool are now guilty of much more and without evidence. And on a final word on the subject, can somebody seriously shut Gus Poyet the hell up.
2. Steve Kean needs to be put out of his misery
In October last year Blackburn sat in 8th place having consolidated under Big Sam and nobody would have labelled them relegation candidates. In came Kentucky Fried Chicken, ousted their dull but crucially competent manager and installed a bouncer with no experience of football whatsoever. Over a year on and the club is in total disarray. The owners are clueless and invisible, the signings have been nonexistent and the decision to continue with the manager is now bordering on torture. There is only so much personal abuse one man can take and Steve Kean clearly has thick skin. For his own sake though, for his family’s sake... this just isn’t worth it. He needs to resign and leave whilst he still can. The club are going to get relegated, even with unlimited funds arriving in January (who on earth would want to go and play for them right now?). He has held himself with respect and dignity throughout everything that has happened but it is now genuinely painful to see him still going through the motions. He has... no... idea... what... he... is... doing. More worrying for Blackburn’s 18 fans is that removing Kean is merely the tip of the iceberg; and one that is almost certainly going to sink into the lower divisions over the next few years. Foreign owners, they’re great for the game I tell thee...
In October last year Blackburn sat in 8th place having consolidated under Big Sam and nobody would have labelled them relegation candidates. In came Kentucky Fried Chicken, ousted their dull but crucially competent manager and installed a bouncer with no experience of football whatsoever. Over a year on and the club is in total disarray. The owners are clueless and invisible, the signings have been nonexistent and the decision to continue with the manager is now bordering on torture. There is only so much personal abuse one man can take and Steve Kean clearly has thick skin. For his own sake though, for his family’s sake... this just isn’t worth it. He needs to resign and leave whilst he still can. The club are going to get relegated, even with unlimited funds arriving in January (who on earth would want to go and play for them right now?). He has held himself with respect and dignity throughout everything that has happened but it is now genuinely painful to see him still going through the motions. He has... no... idea... what... he... is... doing. More worrying for Blackburn’s 18 fans is that removing Kean is merely the tip of the iceberg; and one that is almost certainly going to sink into the lower divisions over the next few years. Foreign owners, they’re great for the game I tell thee...
3. Alex Ferguson is really, really going to take some replacing.
It may seem like an obvious point, but once again Fergie has had to take a lot of criticism this season already for not buying or selecting the correct players and watching as Utd stumbled out of Europe and were trounced by City in the league. Despite that though, Utd are just a home win over Wigan away from totting up their highest ever half way points total with an absurd goal difference of plus 30 (which includes a 6-1 loss!). The difference hasn’t been Man Utd in the Premiership, it’s been Man City setting a Jose first season esque bar that, by rights, nobody else in the league should be able to compete with. That Utd are still just 2 points behind them is not a measure of their players but of their manager. Given Vidic is out for the season and City are well stocked in the “Rooney role” there is an argument that no current Utd player would even get in the City side. Fergie through sheer strength of will gets more out of his players than anyone. Utd will still probably finish short, especially as the injuries rack up, but it is to their credit that nobody would still bet against them. As a United fan, despite the mystifying decision not to buy a central midfielder, there’s still no doubt that Ferguson is the most important cog in the Old Trafford machine... when he goes, it’s open season and almost certainly decline. Here’s hoping he has great genes...
It may seem like an obvious point, but once again Fergie has had to take a lot of criticism this season already for not buying or selecting the correct players and watching as Utd stumbled out of Europe and were trounced by City in the league. Despite that though, Utd are just a home win over Wigan away from totting up their highest ever half way points total with an absurd goal difference of plus 30 (which includes a 6-1 loss!). The difference hasn’t been Man Utd in the Premiership, it’s been Man City setting a Jose first season esque bar that, by rights, nobody else in the league should be able to compete with. That Utd are still just 2 points behind them is not a measure of their players but of their manager. Given Vidic is out for the season and City are well stocked in the “Rooney role” there is an argument that no current Utd player would even get in the City side. Fergie through sheer strength of will gets more out of his players than anyone. Utd will still probably finish short, especially as the injuries rack up, but it is to their credit that nobody would still bet against them. As a United fan, despite the mystifying decision not to buy a central midfielder, there’s still no doubt that Ferguson is the most important cog in the Old Trafford machine... when he goes, it’s open season and almost certainly decline. Here’s hoping he has great genes...
4. Forty points may not mean safety, but midtable.
With “team Manchester” picking up points at will and Spurs still enjoying fine form, the inevitable fall out of that means less points for those at the bottom. Judging by the half way totals, 40 points is likely to secure you 11th or 12th this year not 17th. Indeed, it is conceivable that somebody could survive on 30 or 32 points the way the teams near the bottom are playing. Whilst it looks like the bottom three are still in deep trouble, Wolves remain far from safe and QPR have been dragged downwards, perhaps not helped by Neil Warnock’s continued disregard for defending at home. Watching Blackburn v Bolton in an ill stupor on Tuesday night I can confirm that both teams... are really, really shit. Safety, may only be one good run of form away.
With “team Manchester” picking up points at will and Spurs still enjoying fine form, the inevitable fall out of that means less points for those at the bottom. Judging by the half way totals, 40 points is likely to secure you 11th or 12th this year not 17th. Indeed, it is conceivable that somebody could survive on 30 or 32 points the way the teams near the bottom are playing. Whilst it looks like the bottom three are still in deep trouble, Wolves remain far from safe and QPR have been dragged downwards, perhaps not helped by Neil Warnock’s continued disregard for defending at home. Watching Blackburn v Bolton in an ill stupor on Tuesday night I can confirm that both teams... are really, really shit. Safety, may only be one good run of form away.
5. It’s always important to remember things like...
Fernando Torres - £50m
Andy Carroll - £35m
Demba Ba – Free
Fernando Torres - £50m
Andy Carroll - £35m
Demba Ba – Free
Merry Christmas.
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