EPL Week In Review Jan 16-17
- It doesn’t matter if it’s against Lyon in the Champions League, Reading in the FA Cup or Stoke in the Premier League Liverpool will cough up a really late lead. The only thing I liked about this game was Jamie Carranger saying it was on the players not ownership (granted they don’t help either) for the mess they are in.
- I know there is politics in play but at clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid the coaches, coach and the Sporting Directors handle the transfer market. You can also flip the script and say having a one man show as worked well at Manchester United and Arsenal but considering the players on display for Liverpool you can make the case that Rafa Benitez should be in the kitchen preparing the meal but not in the supermarket buying the ingredients.
- Where did it all go wrong is what Steve Bruce must be thinking. Football is a cruel sport in where form goes it’s very tough to gain back. Despite Sunderland losing 7-2 against Chelsea any talk of Steve Bruce’s job is absurd. Bruce is still trying to put his mark on this team and this takes time. It also doesn’t help that Ryan Babel seems to have no interest in a move to Sunderland for Kenwyne Jones.
- Its a tough ask for someone to play defense against Chelsea but here’s hoping Lorik Cana doesn’t have to cover for injures and suspensions. It was a long day for the make shift partnership of Cana and Paulo da Silva.
- For one week at least there goes those worries about Chelsea being able to score without Didier Drogba.
- Despite Chris Eagles best efforts Burnley could not take advantage of a Manchester United side who were pretty poor in the first half. Eagles sent in David Nugent who was one on one with van der Sar but couldn’t slot it home. Soon after that Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring for Manchester United and Burnley checked out of the game.
- Way to make an impression Mame Biram Diouf with his well taken goal late in the game. I’m sure he’ll be a great starting striker once Rooney is sold. (I kid, I kid.)
- Considering Hull will always be in a regulation battle this season gaining a point on the road against Tottenham is priceless to Phil Brown’s men. Don’t think you will see a better performance for a goalie all season than Boaz Myhill standing on his head to ensure Hull a share of the points.
- Harry Redknapp has to be happy with being in 4th place but this draw against Hull and losses at home against Wolves and Stoke must drive him crazy thinking what if?
- Hugo Rodallega, start putting penalties into the back of the net. His miss against Wolves was the second one I can remember this year. They may be one more to that. This story still had a happy ending for Roberto Martinez gaining three points against another club near the bottom.
- From one Roberto to another. A cynic could say Manchester City looked awful against their first real test under but I’ll give Roberto Mancini a pass on this one. The reason why? I loved the fact he pulled Robinho after subbing him into the game. The rest of the Manchester City players be it Bellamy, or Santa Cruz must respect Mancini for being brave enough to pull the under achieving golden boy. It sends a clear message to everyone one on this club that it doesn’t matter the name on your back, it only matters how you perform during the week in training and out in the field.
- Everton coach David Moyes must of loved sticking it to Manchester City as he is still steamed over the way Jeolan Lescott transfer went down.
- A draw on the road plus they kept a clean sheet to boot must make Gianfranco Zola see some light at the end of the tunnel. With rumours of new ownership about to finally take over West Ham maybe things will start to turn around.
- Here is hoping Clint Dempsey knee injury isn’t serious but something tells me it will be. Would be a huge blow if he isn’t fit for the World Cup. The best thing I can say about Dempsey, big goals aside from save them from the drop in 2007 and 2008 was the fact he wasn’t Roy Hodgson preferred player when he took over Fulham but Dempsey made the most of his chances to earn his starting spot.
- Love the fact Fran Mérida now sees playing time once rumours of him going to Atletico Madrid start to heat up.
- Mentioned this on twitter but will expand on it some here. I like the Sol Campbell transfer, I actually like it a lot more provided he barely plays. Campbell knows what it’s like to win, he has done it before with Arsenal which should help as the season winds down. Campbell even won an FA Cup with Portsmouth back in 2008. (Must feel like a million years ago for Portsmouth fans) He’ll be more valuable with his experience off the pitch than on it at this point but still love this no risk signing.