This Week In Football, it's all about the champions. There was another story too, but you're probably sick of reading about that already!
Chelsea right to rest the starters
Chelsea's shock Barclays Premier League defeat to Sunderland this past Saturday night has virtually handed the championship on a plate to Liverpool ahead of the teams' clash at Anfield on Sunday. The game, which could have been a title decider, comes three days before Chelsea's Champions League semi final second leg against Atletico Madrid. Jose Mourinho's threat to rest his starters for the Liverpool game has been met with some criticism, but in my opinion, he would be stupid not to keep what is left of his first team fit for Europe. Even if the Blues do beat Brendan Rodgers' champions-elect at the weekend, Liverpool have to drop points somewhere else not to win the title, and Mourinho knows it. It's a shame that Chelsea feel they can't win the trophy, and that the closest title race for years has become a slight anti-climax, but what would be a bigger shame is for their Champions League challenge to fizzle out so close to the final in Lisbon having chased a prize they are unlikely to win anyway.
Champions League round up
Mourinho has always faced criticism for his defensive approaches to big games, but is he bothered? Not a bit. Should he be? If Chelsea win on Wednesday, he'll just show you the way to the final. The goalless draw at the Vicente Calderon arguably puts the Blues in the ascendancy, but they will be desperate not to concede an away goal which would leave them needing to score two. Atletico Madrid are more than capable of scoring of course, but I do think Chelsea have enough to go through even if they fail to keep a clean sheet.
Bayern Munich's grip on the European Cup has slipped somewhat following their 1-0 defeat against Real Madrid, but Pep Guardiola will be very thankful that his charges only conceded the one goal. Despite dominating possession, they didn't do enough with the ball and failed to create enough clear-cut chances, and those they did have were wasted. Carlo Ancelotti's game plan would have been to exploit Bayern down their right hand side on the counter attack, and that is exactly how the goal from Karim Benzema came about. It wasn't until the arrival in the second half of Javi Martinez, with Philipp Lahm moving to right back, that Bayern were able to cope with Real without the ball. Despite the off-day, Bayern will still fancy their chances of going through, but if they allow Fabio Coentrao and Cristiano Ronaldo the sort of space they had at the Bernabeu, they will do well to keep another clean sheet. It's great though that we have absolutley no idea what the final will be though even now.
Champions!
Congratulations to Leicester City, who finally secured the Sky Bet Championship title this week. They have been the best team in the division by a long way, and it goes to show what can happen if a board remain patient with a manager and a young team. They have swept all before them and will deserve the milestone of 100 points should they reach it in their last two games. They couldn't beat Forest though, could they? :)
Showing posts with label TWIF 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TWIF 2. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
TWIF 2.05: Moyes and Davies under Derby day pressure
This Week In Football I look at two managers facing battles to save their jobs following, or ahead of, derby day fixtures.
Manchester United's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool was a shocking new low in what has been a horrendous season for the Barclays Premier League champions. Shocking in that Liverpool only managed to score three goals. Two penalties from captain Steven Gerrard and a goal from Luis Suarez gave Brendan Rodgers' side an unbelievably easy victory. Liverpool would have been disappointed it wasn't six or seven. What would have hurt the home fans the most would have been the players' lack of urgency, fight, and ultimately discipline. To concede three penalties is pretty shameful, and to be honest, referee Mark Clattenburg could, maybe even should, have given Liverpool five. United were getting overrun in midfield; it looked like 12 men against ten at times. Juan Mata was out of position again. If you don't play him in the No.10 role, you may as well put him in goal. The gulf between the two old rivals was apparent for all to see, and it proved that David Moyes, despite his defiance in press conferences before and since, is on borrowed time at Old Trafford. If United are knocked out of the Champions League by Olympiacos and then lose at home to Manchester City in the Premier League, I am reasonably confident that the United hierarchy will act. We all expected a transitional season, but 7th in the table is an absolute failure.
Speaking of managers who may be up against it, Billy Davies is allegedly facing a battle to hang on to the Nottingham Forest hot seat after a poor run of results and an FA charge, which has brought a touchline ban, subject to appeal. It gives me no pleasure as a fan of his and of the club to see his position brought under threat by an increasing band of supporters who have had enough of his antics and percieved lack of tactical nouse. In all fairness, find me another team in the Sky Bet Championship who wouldn't struggle to maintain a good run of results with almost their entire starting XI out with not insignificant injuries. The Billy Out Brigade will point to the fact that the club is in no better position now than a year ago, when they ultimately missed out on a play-off place on the final day, but he needs to be given the chance to see out the season. If Davies isn't the manager, who will be? Last time he left, he was followed by Steve McClaren, Steve Cotterill, Sean O'Driscoll and Alex McLeish, a glorious period in the club's history it wasn't. On Saturday Forest travel to the iPro Stadium to face local rivals Derby County. Needless to say, the Reds fans aren't all that confident, illustrated by their struggle to sell out their ticket allocation for the match. Following the reverse fixture at the City Ground in September in which Forest won 1-0, Derby sacked Nigel Clough. I am just hoping that the roles aren't reversed on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool was a shocking new low in what has been a horrendous season for the Barclays Premier League champions. Shocking in that Liverpool only managed to score three goals. Two penalties from captain Steven Gerrard and a goal from Luis Suarez gave Brendan Rodgers' side an unbelievably easy victory. Liverpool would have been disappointed it wasn't six or seven. What would have hurt the home fans the most would have been the players' lack of urgency, fight, and ultimately discipline. To concede three penalties is pretty shameful, and to be honest, referee Mark Clattenburg could, maybe even should, have given Liverpool five. United were getting overrun in midfield; it looked like 12 men against ten at times. Juan Mata was out of position again. If you don't play him in the No.10 role, you may as well put him in goal. The gulf between the two old rivals was apparent for all to see, and it proved that David Moyes, despite his defiance in press conferences before and since, is on borrowed time at Old Trafford. If United are knocked out of the Champions League by Olympiacos and then lose at home to Manchester City in the Premier League, I am reasonably confident that the United hierarchy will act. We all expected a transitional season, but 7th in the table is an absolute failure.
Speaking of managers who may be up against it, Billy Davies is allegedly facing a battle to hang on to the Nottingham Forest hot seat after a poor run of results and an FA charge, which has brought a touchline ban, subject to appeal. It gives me no pleasure as a fan of his and of the club to see his position brought under threat by an increasing band of supporters who have had enough of his antics and percieved lack of tactical nouse. In all fairness, find me another team in the Sky Bet Championship who wouldn't struggle to maintain a good run of results with almost their entire starting XI out with not insignificant injuries. The Billy Out Brigade will point to the fact that the club is in no better position now than a year ago, when they ultimately missed out on a play-off place on the final day, but he needs to be given the chance to see out the season. If Davies isn't the manager, who will be? Last time he left, he was followed by Steve McClaren, Steve Cotterill, Sean O'Driscoll and Alex McLeish, a glorious period in the club's history it wasn't. On Saturday Forest travel to the iPro Stadium to face local rivals Derby County. Needless to say, the Reds fans aren't all that confident, illustrated by their struggle to sell out their ticket allocation for the match. Following the reverse fixture at the City Ground in September in which Forest won 1-0, Derby sacked Nigel Clough. I am just hoping that the roles aren't reversed on Saturday afternoon.
Monday, 27 January 2014
TWIF 2.04: Mata signs, Januzaj dines, FA Cup round five.
This Week In Football Manchester United made the biggest move of the January window, as another Old Trafford star went out for dinner.
United start rebuilding, but they need more than Juan player.
Manchester United may be out of the title race in the Barclays Premier League, but the signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea has reminded the world that they aren't quite finished yet. It may have come too late in terms of their title defence, but the Spaniard's arrival may be the catalyst for a push up the table and into the top four. He alone won't win games for David Moyes, and there is no doubt that United are still four or five players short of a championship-winning squad, but this signing can definitely set the wheels in motion, whether in what is left of this January window, or in the summer. I don't buy Arsene Wenger's argument that Chelsea are trying to sabotage Arsenal and the other title contenders by selling Mata to a team who still have to play them all except Chelsea for a second time. After all, he has been quite happy to let the likes of Ashley Cole and Robin van Persie go in the past to rivals. Short memory as well as short sight, Arsene?
Januzaj's girl cries fowl over Nando's date.
Adnan Januzaj was in the news on Monday when it was revealed that he took a girl to Nando's on a date. No different from a lot of other 18-year-olds I would have thought, except Januzaj has probably got a bit more money than them. Not that money should matter. Call me old-fashioned, but the size of your wallet shouldn't be important. Melissa McKenzie, of Liverpool, obviously saw pound signs in her eyes when a Manchester United footballer came calling, but when she wasn't taken to the poshest restaurants and hotel, felt like she missed her chance to get into the VIP's circle. Shame on you darling, for trying to sleep your way into the papers, and as for a Scouser selling her story to The Sun, surely she knows what her city thinks of that particular publication.
Top four draw opens Cup up.
The current top four in the Premier League were drawn together in the 5th round of the FA Cup with Budweiser in Sunday's draw; Manchester City will welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium, and Liverpool will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal. From a neutral point of view, it's a shame that two of them will go out so early, but then again last year it did the competition, and particularly Wigan Athletic, no harm that a so-called lesser club's path to the final was made easier by the draw. It could be great news too for Wigan's former boss Roberto Martinez's current club Everton, who if they beat Swansea City in the 5th round, may suddenly think it could be their chance.
Tweet me with you opinions @adamgray50
United start rebuilding, but they need more than Juan player.
Manchester United may be out of the title race in the Barclays Premier League, but the signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea has reminded the world that they aren't quite finished yet. It may have come too late in terms of their title defence, but the Spaniard's arrival may be the catalyst for a push up the table and into the top four. He alone won't win games for David Moyes, and there is no doubt that United are still four or five players short of a championship-winning squad, but this signing can definitely set the wheels in motion, whether in what is left of this January window, or in the summer. I don't buy Arsene Wenger's argument that Chelsea are trying to sabotage Arsenal and the other title contenders by selling Mata to a team who still have to play them all except Chelsea for a second time. After all, he has been quite happy to let the likes of Ashley Cole and Robin van Persie go in the past to rivals. Short memory as well as short sight, Arsene?
Januzaj's girl cries fowl over Nando's date.
Adnan Januzaj was in the news on Monday when it was revealed that he took a girl to Nando's on a date. No different from a lot of other 18-year-olds I would have thought, except Januzaj has probably got a bit more money than them. Not that money should matter. Call me old-fashioned, but the size of your wallet shouldn't be important. Melissa McKenzie, of Liverpool, obviously saw pound signs in her eyes when a Manchester United footballer came calling, but when she wasn't taken to the poshest restaurants and hotel, felt like she missed her chance to get into the VIP's circle. Shame on you darling, for trying to sleep your way into the papers, and as for a Scouser selling her story to The Sun, surely she knows what her city thinks of that particular publication.
Top four draw opens Cup up.
The current top four in the Premier League were drawn together in the 5th round of the FA Cup with Budweiser in Sunday's draw; Manchester City will welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium, and Liverpool will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal. From a neutral point of view, it's a shame that two of them will go out so early, but then again last year it did the competition, and particularly Wigan Athletic, no harm that a so-called lesser club's path to the final was made easier by the draw. It could be great news too for Wigan's former boss Roberto Martinez's current club Everton, who if they beat Swansea City in the 5th round, may suddenly think it could be their chance.
Tweet me with you opinions @adamgray50
Friday, 8 November 2013
TWIF 2.03: Plenty to shout about in north London
This Week In Football takes a look at how north London is coping with new expectation.
Are Arsenal the real deal?
Sunday will be a fantastic day for armchair fans of the Barclays Premier League, with Sky Sports showing three games back-to-back. Consider it your reward for sitting through the inevitable bore draw between Norwich and West Ham on Saturday Night Football. Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle begins the Super Sunday hat trick, followed by Manchester City's trip to Sunderland. But the big one is at Old Trafford, as Manchester United host leaders Arsenal in a must-win game for the home team. Defeat for David Moyes' side is not an option. They would fall 11 points behind the Gunners, and surely out of the title race. For Arsenal, it is the third game of what has been called a season-defining week. Many times before, we have seen previous Arsenal teams fail these sort of tests; the big boys would show them up for being the flat track bullies they perhaps were. But right now they are two-thirds of the way to proving that they could be here to stay, following wins at home to Liverpool last Saturday night, and best of all, their victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League which proved how resillient they have become defensively. Despite their excellent start, there are many that are yet to be convinced about their credentials both at home and abroad, yet a win on Sunday would surely get everyone believing that their long trophy drought could end.
Tottenham could be, just be patient.
Across north London, Tottenham are continuing to make slow and steady progress. Thursday night's 2-1 win over Sheriff Tiraspol ensured their place in the Europa League round of 32, they are in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals, and are in the top four in the Premier League with the top flight's second best defensive record. Reason for optimism you would think, yet Andre Villas-Boas can't seem to win over the fans who think his team plays dull football. For me it doesn't matter. A 1-0 win is worth as much as any other, and don't forget that Spurs are still a work in progress when you think of how many new signings are still gelling together. The supporters who are frustrated at the lack of goals should remember that they are still picking up wins, and will only get better once the likes of Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela begin to hit form. Villas-Boas must believe that to win you have to concede fewer goals than the other team, not score more! All he should be criticised for this week is his decision not to substitute Hugo Lloris following his head injury at Everton. It was irresponsible to say the least, and he was lucky that Lloris had a relatively quiet end to the game.
Are Arsenal the real deal?
Sunday will be a fantastic day for armchair fans of the Barclays Premier League, with Sky Sports showing three games back-to-back. Consider it your reward for sitting through the inevitable bore draw between Norwich and West Ham on Saturday Night Football. Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle begins the Super Sunday hat trick, followed by Manchester City's trip to Sunderland. But the big one is at Old Trafford, as Manchester United host leaders Arsenal in a must-win game for the home team. Defeat for David Moyes' side is not an option. They would fall 11 points behind the Gunners, and surely out of the title race. For Arsenal, it is the third game of what has been called a season-defining week. Many times before, we have seen previous Arsenal teams fail these sort of tests; the big boys would show them up for being the flat track bullies they perhaps were. But right now they are two-thirds of the way to proving that they could be here to stay, following wins at home to Liverpool last Saturday night, and best of all, their victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League which proved how resillient they have become defensively. Despite their excellent start, there are many that are yet to be convinced about their credentials both at home and abroad, yet a win on Sunday would surely get everyone believing that their long trophy drought could end.
Tottenham could be, just be patient.
Across north London, Tottenham are continuing to make slow and steady progress. Thursday night's 2-1 win over Sheriff Tiraspol ensured their place in the Europa League round of 32, they are in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals, and are in the top four in the Premier League with the top flight's second best defensive record. Reason for optimism you would think, yet Andre Villas-Boas can't seem to win over the fans who think his team plays dull football. For me it doesn't matter. A 1-0 win is worth as much as any other, and don't forget that Spurs are still a work in progress when you think of how many new signings are still gelling together. The supporters who are frustrated at the lack of goals should remember that they are still picking up wins, and will only get better once the likes of Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela begin to hit form. Villas-Boas must believe that to win you have to concede fewer goals than the other team, not score more! All he should be criticised for this week is his decision not to substitute Hugo Lloris following his head injury at Everton. It was irresponsible to say the least, and he was lucky that Lloris had a relatively quiet end to the game.
Monday, 7 October 2013
TWIF 2.02: Januzaj for England? Maybe. Hart? Definitely.
Remember the name...
Manchester United got a much-needed win on Saturday night at Sunderland to ease the pressure on David Moyes, who hasn't got off to the greatest of starts to his tenure as Old Trafford boss. Their victory was down to two goals from Adnan Januzaj, who became the first player since Ruud van Nistelrooy to score twice on his first Premier League start for United. It hasn't taken long for them, and English football fans in general, to realise how special this kid could be, but the talk since the game at the Stadium Of Light of a possible England career seems very premature. In five years time, Januzaj will be eligible to wear the Three Lions on residency grounds, but for me there are two problems. Firstly he isn't English. It doesn't matter how long he may stay at United. It's like a donkey being born in a stable and calling itself a horse. Secondly, I think it's sad that players can be considered for International call-ups after such a short space of time, essentially one game in this case. Januzaj is a talent, but lets enjoy it and let him enjoy his football without the added pressure.
England need to show Hart
Speaking of England, we face two vital games in World Cup qualification on Friday against Montenegro and next Tuesday versus Poland. Two wins and Roy Hodgson's charges are off to Brazil. Anything less... well, it doesn't bear thinking about. Hodgson's biggest decision seems to be who to select in goal. Joe Hart is obviously struggling with form, but for me he has to keep his place. What message does it send out to drop him? Furthermore, the other options aren't nearly experienced enough at this level. Scott Carson found out the hard way in 2007 in the Croatia defeat that you need experienced heads in clutch situations. Fraser Forster has proved in the Champions League how good he can be, but with due respect to Celtic, he isn't being tested week in, week out like he would be at an English club. I would try him in friendlies in the build up to the World Cup, but for me, he's not ready yet.
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
TWIF 2.01: Shelvey stuns, Sturridge scores, Champions League returns
Welcome to a second season of This Week In Football.
A night to remember for Shelvey:
Monday night's game between Swansea City and Liverpool was a timely reminder that the Barclays Premier League can still provide us with exciting games, after what has been a tough start to the season from a neutral fan's perspective. One player who certainly won't forget it is Jonjo Shelvey. Before the game he spoke about facing his former club and the challenges that brings, but few would have thought that the task for Shelvey would be to remember for which team he was playing. To provide a goal and an assist for one team and two assists for another is enough to confuse even the greatest of players. To be fair, apart from the mistakes, Shelvey had a good night. He must have heard that Swansea were trying to sign him!
Goals galore for Sturridge:
Another topic from Monday Night Football was the form of Daniel Sturridge, who scored in his fourth successive Premier League game for Liverpool with a typical poacher's goal. When Luis Suarez was handed his ten-game suspension, I had doubts as to whether Sturridge could step up and be the talisman that Liverpool needed, but he's doing it, and Brendan Rodgers will have a dilemma once Suarez comes back over who to select, or how to accomodate both of them. It's just a shame that he didn't do it for England last week. Mind you, it's far more important to be fit for club commitments these days. Sigh.
Champions League returns:
The UEFA Champions League is back this week, and the group stage has brought a mixed bag for the Premier League's representatives. It will be interesting to see how, if at all, Sunday's upcoming Manchester derby affects the two sides' team selections this week. United (v Bayer Leverkusen) and City (at Viktoria Plzen) both have winnable games, so I expect a few changes from each side. Maybe it's finally an opportunity for Shinji Kagawa to remind David Moyes of his abilities, following his recent omissions from the side. Chelsea should find Wednesday night's game against FC Basel, indeed their whole group, fairly straightforward, but after last year, they can't afford to take it lightly. At the time of the draw, I worried for Arsenal that they could fail to qualify from the group, but right now confidence couldn't be higher. A win in Marseille sets them up perfectly, but with Borussia Dortmund and Napoli - whose game on Wednesday I'll be watching - also awaiting, it may be essential that the Gunners hit the ground running.
A night to remember for Shelvey:
Monday night's game between Swansea City and Liverpool was a timely reminder that the Barclays Premier League can still provide us with exciting games, after what has been a tough start to the season from a neutral fan's perspective. One player who certainly won't forget it is Jonjo Shelvey. Before the game he spoke about facing his former club and the challenges that brings, but few would have thought that the task for Shelvey would be to remember for which team he was playing. To provide a goal and an assist for one team and two assists for another is enough to confuse even the greatest of players. To be fair, apart from the mistakes, Shelvey had a good night. He must have heard that Swansea were trying to sign him!
Goals galore for Sturridge:
Another topic from Monday Night Football was the form of Daniel Sturridge, who scored in his fourth successive Premier League game for Liverpool with a typical poacher's goal. When Luis Suarez was handed his ten-game suspension, I had doubts as to whether Sturridge could step up and be the talisman that Liverpool needed, but he's doing it, and Brendan Rodgers will have a dilemma once Suarez comes back over who to select, or how to accomodate both of them. It's just a shame that he didn't do it for England last week. Mind you, it's far more important to be fit for club commitments these days. Sigh.
Champions League returns:
The UEFA Champions League is back this week, and the group stage has brought a mixed bag for the Premier League's representatives. It will be interesting to see how, if at all, Sunday's upcoming Manchester derby affects the two sides' team selections this week. United (v Bayer Leverkusen) and City (at Viktoria Plzen) both have winnable games, so I expect a few changes from each side. Maybe it's finally an opportunity for Shinji Kagawa to remind David Moyes of his abilities, following his recent omissions from the side. Chelsea should find Wednesday night's game against FC Basel, indeed their whole group, fairly straightforward, but after last year, they can't afford to take it lightly. At the time of the draw, I worried for Arsenal that they could fail to qualify from the group, but right now confidence couldn't be higher. A win in Marseille sets them up perfectly, but with Borussia Dortmund and Napoli - whose game on Wednesday I'll be watching - also awaiting, it may be essential that the Gunners hit the ground running.
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