The Premiership 2...
I haven't actually promised myself and anyone else to write something on the Premiership every week or every other regular interval, I just write something on it if I feel like it. So again I correctly predicted the result of the Arsenal-Chelsea game, but I'd rather be correct on United's match against Fulham (which I thought United could've won 2-0). Thierry Henry scored after just a minute or so, but given both teams' rather solid defense, it would never have ended up anything more than 4 goals. Oh, wait a minute! Arsenal did concede four against, who was it...Spurs, didn't they?? Which just brings into mind what a Soccernet writer said about the more mediocre teams of the Premiership. I can't remember who it was, but he wrote something smart by giving the case of Michael Reiziger's goal for Boro last week (I think it was against Villa). He noted that while at Barcelona, Reiziger was not exposed to such "generosity" from defenders in the La Liga, as he was with his goal in the Premiership. I had to agree. The Spurs-Arsenal game (I knew it was a while ago, and Spurs have improved somewhat since then) was a case in point. I mean how could you explain scoring four, and STILL lost?? I know Arsenal are one of the best football teams in the world, but you can't keep doing that in a derby. They baffled even their own fans with defenders who're able to knock the ball out of their own keeper's hands literally and allowing their most hated rivals to score as a result. Mourinho was complaining that Spurs "parked a bus" in front of their goal to secure a 0-0 draw with Chelsea earlier in the season. If they'd just maintained a bit of their common sense and parked just a motorcycle, they could've beaten the Gooners. Mourinho was on hand again to provide more sarcasm, by commenting that a 5-4 scoreline is hockey...and not football.
Back to the present. Chelsea seemed to have begun making a habit of thumping crap teams in the Premiership 4-0, and several of their players look to be bang in form at the moment, like Robben, Drogba, Duff, and all. There was also another article from Soccernet that said such games are actually dangerous for Chelsea's European ambitions. These games give them false comfidence. There is absolutely nothing much to take from a 4-0 drubbing of Norwich City when in fact, you can't actually compare Norwich with Barcelona. If Chelsea were in the La Liga, there would not be so many 4-0's in their favour like that. I won't say Chelsea don't stand a chance against Barca, because if you've got Jose Mourinho as your manager, you always do. But on current form, I'll back Barca to nick through over the two legs.
United themselves didn't do too badly over the weekend by scoring five, despite conceding two disappointing goals. Wayne Rooney, excellent player that he is, looked like he's got much to learn, especially in terms of composure. And with van Nistelrooy and Saha out, I don't actually see where our goals will come from, particularly if Scholes or Smith suffer any injuries themselves. We've got to give credit to Alan Smith, who's been admirably consistent so far this season. Fingers crossed they will maintain fitness, and no more injury woes until the end of the season.
ARSE? Unfortunately for us, they had a tremendously lucky game last week. No doubt outplayed by an impressive home Portsmouth side, they were just hanging on and were ready to drop more points. But Sol "King Kong" Campbell?? Come on ARSE fans...a brilliant goal though it is, it was not championship stuff to rely on your centre-halves to score for you. On the other side of the coin, what were the Pompey defence doing by allowing an opponent to run for yards and smash the ball like that?? Don't they know what "closing down" an opponent is?? Is the Premiership the technically best league in the world? I don't think so.
And what about Liverpool, and particularly Steven Gerrard? They are on a decent run of form at the moment, and that was why I was backing them to shoot down ridiculous Everton (they know they don't belong in the top three, and they had better come down soon!). And what happened? Another of those two "baldies" midfielders from Everton scored, this time being Lee Carsley. But then Liverfool recovered and hammered another perennial crap under-achiever, Newcastle (a.k.a. The Team that Other Teams Beat to Get Back on Form). Has Graeme Souness ever managed an un-crap team or ever transformed a crap team into a decent one (I'm aware he's managed Liverpool as well...)?? And despite Liverpool being in a good run of form, it is very obvious that Steven Gerrard's in the wrong club (assuming he still wants championships and medals to show off to his grand kids). Admit it Pool fans. Can you realistically see yourselves toppling all three of United, Chelsea, and Arsenal for the Premiership, let alone the Champions League with so many other great teams in it? I'll say their best chance of a trophy in the forseeable future is still the FA Cup or the League Cup, which they could still win if they're lucky enough!
Slight emergency here...continue later.
Back to the present. Chelsea seemed to have begun making a habit of thumping crap teams in the Premiership 4-0, and several of their players look to be bang in form at the moment, like Robben, Drogba, Duff, and all. There was also another article from Soccernet that said such games are actually dangerous for Chelsea's European ambitions. These games give them false comfidence. There is absolutely nothing much to take from a 4-0 drubbing of Norwich City when in fact, you can't actually compare Norwich with Barcelona. If Chelsea were in the La Liga, there would not be so many 4-0's in their favour like that. I won't say Chelsea don't stand a chance against Barca, because if you've got Jose Mourinho as your manager, you always do. But on current form, I'll back Barca to nick through over the two legs.
United themselves didn't do too badly over the weekend by scoring five, despite conceding two disappointing goals. Wayne Rooney, excellent player that he is, looked like he's got much to learn, especially in terms of composure. And with van Nistelrooy and Saha out, I don't actually see where our goals will come from, particularly if Scholes or Smith suffer any injuries themselves. We've got to give credit to Alan Smith, who's been admirably consistent so far this season. Fingers crossed they will maintain fitness, and no more injury woes until the end of the season.
ARSE? Unfortunately for us, they had a tremendously lucky game last week. No doubt outplayed by an impressive home Portsmouth side, they were just hanging on and were ready to drop more points. But Sol "King Kong" Campbell?? Come on ARSE fans...a brilliant goal though it is, it was not championship stuff to rely on your centre-halves to score for you. On the other side of the coin, what were the Pompey defence doing by allowing an opponent to run for yards and smash the ball like that?? Don't they know what "closing down" an opponent is?? Is the Premiership the technically best league in the world? I don't think so.
And what about Liverpool, and particularly Steven Gerrard? They are on a decent run of form at the moment, and that was why I was backing them to shoot down ridiculous Everton (they know they don't belong in the top three, and they had better come down soon!). And what happened? Another of those two "baldies" midfielders from Everton scored, this time being Lee Carsley. But then Liverfool recovered and hammered another perennial crap under-achiever, Newcastle (a.k.a. The Team that Other Teams Beat to Get Back on Form). Has Graeme Souness ever managed an un-crap team or ever transformed a crap team into a decent one (I'm aware he's managed Liverpool as well...)?? And despite Liverpool being in a good run of form, it is very obvious that Steven Gerrard's in the wrong club (assuming he still wants championships and medals to show off to his grand kids). Admit it Pool fans. Can you realistically see yourselves toppling all three of United, Chelsea, and Arsenal for the Premiership, let alone the Champions League with so many other great teams in it? I'll say their best chance of a trophy in the forseeable future is still the FA Cup or the League Cup, which they could still win if they're lucky enough!
Slight emergency here...continue later.
posted by Keith at 5:44 AM
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