1. Saints are all marching to Brazil
With ten goals in their last three games, the Southampton bandwagon has shown no signs of slowing despite nothing of note to play for. The World Cup is probably responsible for part of that, but another key factor is that Saints play in such a fluent, handsome way that they give off an impression of being utterly relaxed on the football field. Beyond Rooney, the precocious talent of Ross Barkley and the curiously underrated Danny Welbeck, there is little argument that England could do worse than pick an entire Saints/Pool front six for Brazil. Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling, Rodriguez and Sturridge would form a youthful, pacey attack that would all be on the same wavelength. With Lambert an option off the bench, not to mention the three names mentioned above, there is plenty to be optimistic about for England fans. Of course, the flipside is that should any of the above be omitted in favour of the likes of Milner, Townsend, Lampard, Cleverely and Defoe we may as well give up now. Beyond cheering their boys onto and off the plane though, it will be a nervous summer for Southampton fans with their prized assets being coveted by clubs with deeper pockets than them. Given their superb youth policy (certainly when compared to, say, Chelsea) it is a cruel fate, and it will be little consolation that they are probably used to it by now.
With ten goals in their last three games, the Southampton bandwagon has shown no signs of slowing despite nothing of note to play for. The World Cup is probably responsible for part of that, but another key factor is that Saints play in such a fluent, handsome way that they give off an impression of being utterly relaxed on the football field. Beyond Rooney, the precocious talent of Ross Barkley and the curiously underrated Danny Welbeck, there is little argument that England could do worse than pick an entire Saints/Pool front six for Brazil. Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling, Rodriguez and Sturridge would form a youthful, pacey attack that would all be on the same wavelength. With Lambert an option off the bench, not to mention the three names mentioned above, there is plenty to be optimistic about for England fans. Of course, the flipside is that should any of the above be omitted in favour of the likes of Milner, Townsend, Lampard, Cleverely and Defoe we may as well give up now. Beyond cheering their boys onto and off the plane though, it will be a nervous summer for Southampton fans with their prized assets being coveted by clubs with deeper pockets than them. Given their superb youth policy (certainly when compared to, say, Chelsea) it is a cruel fate, and it will be little consolation that they are probably used to it by now.
2. Arrogance, not
ability, is Chelsea’s undoing
The title race is certainly not over, despite what Jose and seemingly the bookies would have you believe, but if Chelsea do fall short it won’t just be because they possess inferior players. Jose is the master of the big game but his team have gone away to Villa, Palace, West Brom and Newcastle and scored just a single goal. Indeed, when you add in Everton, Man Utd and Arsenal, Chelsea have been terrible away this season, that superb result at the Etihad aside. Whilst the latter three were all understandable in different contexts, the first four are unforgiveable for a team as talented as this. Jose can chirp all he wants about City having more money, but given Chelsea remain the second most financially backed team in the league it’s unsure how much sympathy he is really expecting. You’d expect a Jose team to have the best defence, but a midfield containing the likes of Ramires, Matic, Hazard, Lampard, Oscar, Schurlle, Willian and Mata (until Jan) stands up with anyone… and is certainly stronger on paper than Liverpool who now lead the table above them. There is no denying that Chelsea have lacked a centre forward for a couple of years now, but they had two transfer windows to arrest that, let Lukaku go on loan, have refused to ever play Ba and still have Fernando Torres on their books. Who is shit. No, you get the impression that the reason Chelsea have lost such games this season is because the players have turned up merely expecting to win. Jose was correct when he pointed this out post match, but he stopped short of blaming himself when pre-match motivation is surely a massive issue? The title was there for the taking this season, as proved by Liverpool’s ascent. Chelsea only have themselves to blame for not being in a better position to have made it their own.
The title race is certainly not over, despite what Jose and seemingly the bookies would have you believe, but if Chelsea do fall short it won’t just be because they possess inferior players. Jose is the master of the big game but his team have gone away to Villa, Palace, West Brom and Newcastle and scored just a single goal. Indeed, when you add in Everton, Man Utd and Arsenal, Chelsea have been terrible away this season, that superb result at the Etihad aside. Whilst the latter three were all understandable in different contexts, the first four are unforgiveable for a team as talented as this. Jose can chirp all he wants about City having more money, but given Chelsea remain the second most financially backed team in the league it’s unsure how much sympathy he is really expecting. You’d expect a Jose team to have the best defence, but a midfield containing the likes of Ramires, Matic, Hazard, Lampard, Oscar, Schurlle, Willian and Mata (until Jan) stands up with anyone… and is certainly stronger on paper than Liverpool who now lead the table above them. There is no denying that Chelsea have lacked a centre forward for a couple of years now, but they had two transfer windows to arrest that, let Lukaku go on loan, have refused to ever play Ba and still have Fernando Torres on their books. Who is shit. No, you get the impression that the reason Chelsea have lost such games this season is because the players have turned up merely expecting to win. Jose was correct when he pointed this out post match, but he stopped short of blaming himself when pre-match motivation is surely a massive issue? The title was there for the taking this season, as proved by Liverpool’s ascent. Chelsea only have themselves to blame for not being in a better position to have made it their own.
3. Spurs inferiority
complex is really quite inferior
Played 8, Won 1, Lost 7, Scored 2, Conceded 27. That is Spurs record against the top 4 this season. And they can’t even blame David Moyes. What they can blame though, is their transfer policy and the complete and utter lack of continuity in the dugout. Spurs seem to only sign two types of players. One, the supremely average, who tend to last a couple of seasons and then get farmed out to a less aspirational team further down the league (far too many to list here). And two, the brilliant, who also last a couple of seasons and then get sold to a more aspirational team higher up the league (Berbatov, Carrick, Bale, Modric). Levy is praised for getting such good fees for the latter, but what use is it when it is continuously invested in the same manner? Spurs aren’t going to get better by playing the transfer market, so surely then it would make sense to employ a manager and stick with him for a decent period. That’s what Levy said he was doing with AVB of course, before sacking him for returning the best points per game for the club in the modern era. Spurs were truly awful at Anfield as they were at home to the same opposition. There was no fight, no belief, no energy. It is a manager’s job to instil those things, but given the players don’t know who that’s going to be from one transfer window to the next, is it little wonder they keep falling short when it matters?
Played 8, Won 1, Lost 7, Scored 2, Conceded 27. That is Spurs record against the top 4 this season. And they can’t even blame David Moyes. What they can blame though, is their transfer policy and the complete and utter lack of continuity in the dugout. Spurs seem to only sign two types of players. One, the supremely average, who tend to last a couple of seasons and then get farmed out to a less aspirational team further down the league (far too many to list here). And two, the brilliant, who also last a couple of seasons and then get sold to a more aspirational team higher up the league (Berbatov, Carrick, Bale, Modric). Levy is praised for getting such good fees for the latter, but what use is it when it is continuously invested in the same manner? Spurs aren’t going to get better by playing the transfer market, so surely then it would make sense to employ a manager and stick with him for a decent period. That’s what Levy said he was doing with AVB of course, before sacking him for returning the best points per game for the club in the modern era. Spurs were truly awful at Anfield as they were at home to the same opposition. There was no fight, no belief, no energy. It is a manager’s job to instil those things, but given the players don’t know who that’s going to be from one transfer window to the next, is it little wonder they keep falling short when it matters?
4. Wenger could do
worse than making Flamini captain
Arsenal won’t win the title, but they at least restored some pride this weekend with a second half performance of real gusto. It’s a cliché to praise managers for mid game team talks, a cliché which often forgets how useless their initial brief probably was. But given his second half performance, it’s tempting to believe that Mathieu Flamini gave the talk himself. The Frenchman was strangely benched for the key games against both Munich and Chelsea, despite being pivotal to Arsenal’s form earlier in the season. He was magnificent here and led from the front, the back and the middle. Given Vermaelen will surely be stripped of the captaincy in the summer, Wenger could do a lot worse than hand the armband to the one player in his team who consistently shows the fight and the spirit that is missing in so many of his troops.
Arsenal won’t win the title, but they at least restored some pride this weekend with a second half performance of real gusto. It’s a cliché to praise managers for mid game team talks, a cliché which often forgets how useless their initial brief probably was. But given his second half performance, it’s tempting to believe that Mathieu Flamini gave the talk himself. The Frenchman was strangely benched for the key games against both Munich and Chelsea, despite being pivotal to Arsenal’s form earlier in the season. He was magnificent here and led from the front, the back and the middle. Given Vermaelen will surely be stripped of the captaincy in the summer, Wenger could do a lot worse than hand the armband to the one player in his team who consistently shows the fight and the spirit that is missing in so many of his troops.
5. Poyet is not doing
himself any favours
For the third match in four games, Gus Poyet set his team up in a 5-3-2 formation and dropped his best player in Adam Johnson. It didn’t work in the first two games so to try it again in a match as must win as this defied belief. Johnson came on against Liverpool and turned the game in Sunderland’s favour and he did exactly the same again tonight. Not only scoring, but injecting urgency and purpose into a side who looked hopelessly bereft of both. In both cases however, it turned out to be too little too late and Sunderland are now heading for the Championship. West Ham are now safe to see out the season in their own, curiously uninspiring way and put together a list of average wingers that other clubs don’t want. Poyet meanwhile is long past the point where he can blame his predecessor. His team have collapsed since the League Cup final and they have the worst home form in the league. I suppose their away form could keep them up. I mean they only have Man City, Spurs, Man Utd & Chelsea. Ok maybe not…
For the third match in four games, Gus Poyet set his team up in a 5-3-2 formation and dropped his best player in Adam Johnson. It didn’t work in the first two games so to try it again in a match as must win as this defied belief. Johnson came on against Liverpool and turned the game in Sunderland’s favour and he did exactly the same again tonight. Not only scoring, but injecting urgency and purpose into a side who looked hopelessly bereft of both. In both cases however, it turned out to be too little too late and Sunderland are now heading for the Championship. West Ham are now safe to see out the season in their own, curiously uninspiring way and put together a list of average wingers that other clubs don’t want. Poyet meanwhile is long past the point where he can blame his predecessor. His team have collapsed since the League Cup final and they have the worst home form in the league. I suppose their away form could keep them up. I mean they only have Man City, Spurs, Man Utd & Chelsea. Ok maybe not…
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