1. Newcastle were hard done by
The sight of Alan Pardew, puffed up like Lucifer arising from the bowels of hell, screaming abuse at his opposite number on Sunday was unsightly, grotesque and shameful. His actions, entirely unforgivable, were at least understandable in the context of a match which could have been played 20 times over and not got the same result. Arsenal recently came to Newcastle and gave a performance of grit and determination, before delivering a classic sucker punch to claim the three points. It was a title winning performance and on the surface this result appeared to be much the same for Manchester City. The truth though, was that City were battered for huge portions of this match and were unbelievably lucky to escape with three points. Wrong offside calls, spurned chances, brilliant keeping and a stone wall should never have been disallowed in a hundred years goal all helped to deny a vibrant Newcastle something from the match. The “goal” was of course the catalyst to all of Pardew’s subsequent rage and, as both a neutral and a “critic,” it’s a decision that gets worse the more you look at it. Let us silence straight away the small, petty band of law studiers who have claimed that “technically, you could see why it wasn’t given.” Let us also ignore the evidence that clearly shows Joe Hart’s vision being in no way at all blocked by Newcastle players. Let us instead focus on the message that denying such a goal sends out to the rest of the league. Put simply, it says to every defending team that following a partly cleared/rebounded corner or set piece your best bet is to sprint as fast as possible forwards because even if somebody smashes an unstoppable pile driver into the corner from 25 yards... it won’t be given because no doubt some opposition player will be standing in an offside position. That, quite frankly, is stupid. It is not in the spirit of the game and is the exact opposite as to why the offside law was modified in the first place. To encourage fluid attacking play, not prevent it. Unless a player is physically obstructing someone, if they don’t touch the ball they are simply not interfering with play. I guarantee that within a fortnight an almost identical goal will have been given. Probably for Chelsea.
2. Would anyone not want a ticket to the upcoming Merseyside derby?
There is a lot of good football being played this year. Manchester City’s home form is ridiculously impressive, Southampton continue to win plaudits for pressing and inventiveness and Stoke have, implausibly, been involved in three of the best games of the season. But if pushed it’s hard to look beyond Everton & Liverpool, in contrasting ways, for the benchmark in entertainment. Just a single point separates the two clubs in 4th and 5th and both won again this weekend in the manner they have done so all season. Nobody in the league is controlling games in the manner that Everton are. They don’t score as many as they maybe could, but they remain the 6th top scorers in the league and now posses the best defensive record to go with it. Everton don’t look like losing any game they play in and there are few higher compliments you can pay teams. Indeed the Toffees have been beaten just twice all season, undone only by the unstoppable might of Man City at home and a freak 10 man defeat by Sunderland. In Gareth Barry they possess the stand out unsung player of the year and they arguably have the best midfield in the league in terms of offering a balance between defence and attack. Liverpool meanwhile are playing an absurdly open game which has seen a ridiculous 70 goals fly in at both ends during the past 15 matches (you do the math). Thankfully for them, most of them are going in at the right end and the team are set up to provide a platform for the talents of Luis Suarez to shine. Suarez needs just 12 more goals to equal Alan Shearer & Andy Cole’s record of 34 goals in a season. At the rate he’s going he will hit that total by his 25th game of the season. It took those two more than 40. So who will win the derby and get the march on the final Champions League spot? Will it matter anyway because Manchester United are going to nip in and... sorry I’ve just died laughing at the thought. I mean, I could have gone for plausibility and written Spurs...
3. The flying wingers are back!
Just a couple of months ago I lamented the lack of flying wingers in Roy Hodgson’s plans for Brazil and scorned the reliance on the injury prone Theo Walcott (injured) and only just arrived at the party Andros Townsend (hasn’t started a game in two months). Well since then the gauntlet has been thrown down and picked up by almost every English winger in the land. Raheem Sterling has added consistency and end product to his previous game of RUNNING REALLY, REALLY FAST. Aaron Lennon has created or scored a goal in each of his past four matches and has been key to Spurs reinvention as an attacking force. Adam Johnson has just scored a fucking hat trick. That’s right, THE Adam Johnson. And all of this while Adam Lallana, statistically the best English player in the league this season, goes from strength to strength. I haven’t even mentioned Adnan Januzaj. Who may still be English depending on who you believe. But probably isn’t. Although Tom Cleverly definitely is. Sadly.
4. Did Solskjaer really know what he was in for?
Finally appointed Cardiff manager a couple of weeks ago, the decision to take over the reigns at the Welsh club was clearly not one taken lightly by the ex baby faced assassin. But that doesn’t change the question... was it the right one? Cardiff have lost both their last two league matches without scoring a goal and have slipped into the bottom three. Indeed, with their next two matches stating Manchester City (away), Manchester United (away) it seems likely they will be bottom as we head into February. I suppose from there the only way is up, but in a frighteningly tight relegation battle there are no guarantees for any team and how will it affect Solksjaer’s career if his first job in English football ends in relegation? Despite the likable nature of the ex Manchester United man, nobody would mourn Vincent Tan’s club being sent back down into the fiery chasm from whence they came. Especially as they now play in red.
5. The Dane is back.
No not Troels Hartmann, brilliant as he was in last nights episode of Sherlock that ultimately delayed the publication of this blog... Christian Eriksen. After impressing in his first couple of games the youthful Dane was ostracised by AVB presumably for being just too handsome. Still just 21, and born in a town called “middelfart” (not even remotely relevant, but still amusing) - the onfield aviator has been magnificent since being restored to the starting line up by Tim Sherwood. He is scoring goals, creating goals and he is a beautiful footballer to watch. Both in terms of the way he plays the game, all soft touches and whimsically caressed passes, but also just in the way he looks. I mean, if one bloggist can’t come out and say he fancies another man in this day and age I don’t know what the game is coming to. Thank you Thomas Hitzlsperger. Thank you.
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