EPL Week In Review September 20th
- Every team will have their challenges this season but it will be interesting to see how Manchester City bounces back from this stomach punch. The citizens showed their flaws and strengths in one game. Even if it is against United giving up four goals is a bit much. The part Manchester City fans can hang their heads on is the fact they kept coming back at United thanks to Craig Bellamy who seems to have a knack for coming up on the big stage.
- Nice giveaway there Rio Ferdinand. He must of been on cloud nine when Michael Owen scored the winner as is now off the hook.
- Recall two years ago when Arsenal were challenging United for the title Sir Alex Ferguson said on a late Arsenal winner, “Typical Arsenal, they score in the 7th minute of the 5 minute allotment of extra time.” Mark Hughes should bust out that quote in his press conference today. It must leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Manchester City fans to lose like that. Who was in charge of the extra time, Luciano Moggi?
- Only thing was missing was that game was Stan Collymore sliding it home. Sunday’s match doesn’t quite measure up to that Newcastle/Liverpool classic but I’m sure it’s going to be played on TV for many years to come.
- Portsmouth fans must be wondering what in the world is David Nugent doing scoring two goals for Burnley? Nugent isn’t going to save Portsmouth from their faith but it is another head scratcher to send a player on loan who can chip in 5-10 goals a season.
- It does say something when the Arsenal fans by and large weren’t jumping for joy in the stands yesterday. Arsenal is like a classic bully. They pray on the weak. Of course Arsenal was going to put the boots to Wigan. Roberto Martinez is still trying to put his stamp on his Wigan team where as Arsene Wenger has 13 years behind him when it comes to playing the beautiful game. When it comes to facing clubs with equal talent Arsenal have rarely risen to the challenge these last couple of years. Wenger will say how the future is still bright but casual fans will only believe it when they can get something in games like their Manchester United/City matches.
- Good to see total football is alive and well in Dutch football. Thomas Vermaelen second goal of the day was a thing of beauty. Not many strikers in England could supply such a finish never mind a defender.
- Spike Lee was in the stands watching Arsenal on Saturday. Makes sense as both Lee and Arsenal are living off past glories.
- Aston Villa was being nice yesterday. Up 2-0 they put it in cruise control against Portsmouth.
- Portsmouth fans might as well book they trips to Plymouth, Bristol City and Coventry. I’d also be shocked if Part Hart makes it past the next International break as coach.
- Could easily see why Bolton fans hate Gary Megson. It’s one thing playing cautious on the road. Fair play if you are trying to sneak away with a point. That I can understand but doing it at home with the likes of Stoke is perplexing. Bolton fans can look at Megson one of two ways. They could be happy with him leading them to 14th every year but most of them pine for the days of Sam Allardyce. Those Bolton teams were no push over but still had the likes of Jay Jay Okocha and Nicholas Anelka who could make something out of nothing.
- Tough to be in Gianfranco Zola shoes today. One of his best strikers in Dean Ashton may decide to retire due to injures then he has to watch Ferando Torress rip them apart. The best players like Fernando Torres can get you three points by themselves.
- Must admit didn’t except Wolves to have seven points out of six games this season. Full credit to them beating a tough Fulham team 2-1 at home.
- If only Louis Saha didn’t have to live in a bubble. Two goals today against Blackburn sees Everton leap frog out of the regulation places.
- Another week and another review where I’m fill of praise for Carlo Ancelotti. Chelsea has had to deal with a hard fought Champions League game mid-week, Peter Kenyon being shown the door albeit with love. Not to mention the whole transfer ban saga hovering over their heads. Despite that Ancelotti has done a masterful job keeping his Chelsea players focused on the game since everything else is largely out of their control.
- Harry Redknapp must be wondering what if Robbie Keane penalty call was given. Ricardo Carvalho did catch Keane in the box but it’s one of those calls rarely given against a top side. Once the penalty was denied to add insult to injury Frank Lampard made it 2-0 and Tottenham waived the white flag soon after.
- Don’t think many Manchester City fans are missing Vedran Ćorluka. Chelsea just kept exposing him the entire game.
Always scary seeing a player leave the field like Sébastien Bassong went off. Hope his injury isn’t serious.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Seems a tad contradictory when you refer to Arsenal as “bullies” of preying on the “weak” the same day you applaude Ronaldo for punishing a “weak” team.
September 21st, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I don’t think he ment to say that arsenals preying on the weak teams was something negative just that they tend to hammer the teams lower down the table while lately they havn’t been beating the big clubs consistently.
On another note i think the supposed controversy over the time added on has been cleared up. Citys celebrations for their third goal lasted something like 56 seconds meaning another minute should have been added on to the four. Also carrick was subbed on which results in another 30 seconds being added on which would bring us to 5 and a half minutes of added time. Owen scored five minutes and 26 seconds into injury time. While the game actually had seven minutes added on most of the last 90 seconds is taken up with united celebrating. United defended terribly all game and still won, would we have gotten this lucky against chelsea? i don’t think so. City have bought a lot of talent but rather than say there are now the big fve i would be more inclined to say that now there are the big three because city and arsenal can’t win the league.
September 21st, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I know I’m somewhat heavy handed on Arsenal. I don’t see being a bully as a bad thing. Arsenal does what they are suppose to do in that spot. Just don’t want to hear the all is well in Arsenal’s world stuff from Wenger afterwards. I want to see Arsenal grab three points out of sheer will against a top team when it means something in the standings. That is the type of victory I haven’t seen in the league in along time and have to go back to their victory against A.C Milan in the Champions League two years ago.
cwtp – duly noted, right after I posted went oh fu*k I’m wrong here but we live and learn.
September 21st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Haha no probs mate im amazed you don’t make more mistakes to be honest and in fainess it was a fairly tiny mistake. Great, great game of football. Its games like that which make all the painfully dull one nil wins 100% worth it. If i went and saw a movie where the scoring went like it did id have slated it for being unrealistic lol