EPL weekend thoughts
Man U 1-1 Reading
More of the same problems for Man U - the midfield was weak and dare I say lacked quality? Far too many turnovers and wayward touches. Fletcher was awful. Carrick did not do much. And Scholes is not there yet.
The color commentator for the broadcast would not say a nice word about Ronaldo (while finding cause to praise Carrick and Scholes) - yes, Christiano missed a bunch of shots, but he was the only bright light in 1st half. The guy continually complained about Ronaldo's selfishness, and didn't even give him credit for a darting run and perfect cross that Scholes missed by fractions for a tap in (he praised Scholes for making the run, and let him off by saying Ronaldo's cross bounced awkwardly.)
Then, when Ronaldo single-handedly created and drilled home the equalizer, his comment was "If you've got it, flaunt it." Though, he'd been saying exactly the opposite all game. Someone tell me who this was - I recognize the voice and he is the worst color guy in England.
Skipper Gary Neville was awful. Even besides the handball PK, he just looked weak and frustrated.
We saw the return of Gabriel Heinze- He is a very good player and I'm glad he is back, but he should have had 3 yellow cards in the 1st half. Will they ever call him on the blows he delivers to attackers heads on loose balls? These are pre-meditated assaults and the refs NEVER call them. It is ridiculous.
Reading seems to have something about them - I am not that surprised by this result. Seol was very good again and Murty was great in the back. A deserved point and a special day for the club.
Newcastle 1-1 Everton
I bet on Everton to win this game at 7/3. Not a great bet, as they looked quite different from the side who has come out of the blocks blazing. That said, Ameobe's goal was clearly offsides, so I must have a moan about that.
Everton seemed happy to play counter-attack, ceding so much posession and space to Newcastle. The announcers thought they looked great in the back, and on aerial balls they were fantastic, but, otherwise, I thought they were slow to the ball and full of gaps.
When Everton did try to launch counters, they were often way too slow and ponderous with the ball (Phil Neville wasguilty several times - the guy almost always looks first to go backwards, even when space in front). When they had the ball in the Newcastle area, there seemed to be real spacing issues attacking.
I just think the Everton midfield (who I recently praised) were sub-par. Arteta set up Cahill's goal with a pinpoint cross, but aside from that suffered through a mediocre match. Osman was pretty invisible (tho almost scored the winner late), and Carsley was helpful defending in their own box but wasn't winning much in the middle of the park. The midfield overall seemed very passive (esp for such an active unit).
For Newcastle, James Milner looked bright and lively down the right, and Emre was pulling the strings in the middle. I think they should have done more with the chances they created (I'm talking to you, Martens) but not an awful result.
Arsenal 3-0 Sheffield United
Once again, this confirms Henry's importance to Arsenal. Arsenal was not very creative today and the Blades defended well and in numbers, and yet Arsenal, struggling for goals, gets 3 of them.
Henry didn't even look that great, yet he scored 1 and created a second (unfortunate OG for Jagielka (sic)). I put much of the lack of creation on Cesc Fabergas, who looked really bad today, after a great match and decisive assist against Man U. Gilberto looked kind of weak as well. But, the Gunners get their first win at the Emirates and can turn their focus to Europe.
I want to praise Kolo Toure, even though it was a relatively quiet game for the Arsenal back 4. This guy just keeps getting better and at age 25 is now heading into his prime as a defender. Arsenal paid like 150,000 pounds for him, and I think he now deserves mention among the very best defenders in the world. What a buy, what a player.
Other thoughts/notes, and self-congratulations:
Samaras really came through for an increasingly desperate Man City - he scored 2 beauties to get them 3 points. Just as I had sort of predicted in the Reading-Man City post.
Is there a better left foot in the world than Liverpool's John Arne Riise? If you mention Roberto Carlos, we have nothing to discuss. Also, with increased support, Kuyt looks real good, as I sort of predicted in the CL post.
Lampard shoved all my comments about his wayward shooting with a nice PK and a lovely second goal from about 18 yards to earn Chelsea a late victory at Fulham. When Joe Cole returns, I would sit Ballack and not Essien. Tough decision, but thats why they pay me the big bucks (They=google, big bucks= not a penny).
The Villa revial continues, as the does the Charlton slide. Does anyone have any info/insight on the youngster Gabriel Abgonlahor? Was wondering why O'Neill was playing him every match, but he sure showed why with a lovely goal, and almost a second. On both plays, he embarassed Hermann Hreidarsson, blowing right by the Icelandic defender, who looked totally at sea.
More of the same problems for Man U - the midfield was weak and dare I say lacked quality? Far too many turnovers and wayward touches. Fletcher was awful. Carrick did not do much. And Scholes is not there yet.
The color commentator for the broadcast would not say a nice word about Ronaldo (while finding cause to praise Carrick and Scholes) - yes, Christiano missed a bunch of shots, but he was the only bright light in 1st half. The guy continually complained about Ronaldo's selfishness, and didn't even give him credit for a darting run and perfect cross that Scholes missed by fractions for a tap in (he praised Scholes for making the run, and let him off by saying Ronaldo's cross bounced awkwardly.)
Then, when Ronaldo single-handedly created and drilled home the equalizer, his comment was "If you've got it, flaunt it." Though, he'd been saying exactly the opposite all game. Someone tell me who this was - I recognize the voice and he is the worst color guy in England.
Skipper Gary Neville was awful. Even besides the handball PK, he just looked weak and frustrated.
We saw the return of Gabriel Heinze- He is a very good player and I'm glad he is back, but he should have had 3 yellow cards in the 1st half. Will they ever call him on the blows he delivers to attackers heads on loose balls? These are pre-meditated assaults and the refs NEVER call them. It is ridiculous.
Reading seems to have something about them - I am not that surprised by this result. Seol was very good again and Murty was great in the back. A deserved point and a special day for the club.
Newcastle 1-1 Everton
I bet on Everton to win this game at 7/3. Not a great bet, as they looked quite different from the side who has come out of the blocks blazing. That said, Ameobe's goal was clearly offsides, so I must have a moan about that.
Everton seemed happy to play counter-attack, ceding so much posession and space to Newcastle. The announcers thought they looked great in the back, and on aerial balls they were fantastic, but, otherwise, I thought they were slow to the ball and full of gaps.
When Everton did try to launch counters, they were often way too slow and ponderous with the ball (Phil Neville wasguilty several times - the guy almost always looks first to go backwards, even when space in front). When they had the ball in the Newcastle area, there seemed to be real spacing issues attacking.
I just think the Everton midfield (who I recently praised) were sub-par. Arteta set up Cahill's goal with a pinpoint cross, but aside from that suffered through a mediocre match. Osman was pretty invisible (tho almost scored the winner late), and Carsley was helpful defending in their own box but wasn't winning much in the middle of the park. The midfield overall seemed very passive (esp for such an active unit).
For Newcastle, James Milner looked bright and lively down the right, and Emre was pulling the strings in the middle. I think they should have done more with the chances they created (I'm talking to you, Martens) but not an awful result.
Arsenal 3-0 Sheffield United
Once again, this confirms Henry's importance to Arsenal. Arsenal was not very creative today and the Blades defended well and in numbers, and yet Arsenal, struggling for goals, gets 3 of them.
Henry didn't even look that great, yet he scored 1 and created a second (unfortunate OG for Jagielka (sic)). I put much of the lack of creation on Cesc Fabergas, who looked really bad today, after a great match and decisive assist against Man U. Gilberto looked kind of weak as well. But, the Gunners get their first win at the Emirates and can turn their focus to Europe.
I want to praise Kolo Toure, even though it was a relatively quiet game for the Arsenal back 4. This guy just keeps getting better and at age 25 is now heading into his prime as a defender. Arsenal paid like 150,000 pounds for him, and I think he now deserves mention among the very best defenders in the world. What a buy, what a player.
Other thoughts/notes, and self-congratulations:
Samaras really came through for an increasingly desperate Man City - he scored 2 beauties to get them 3 points. Just as I had sort of predicted in the Reading-Man City post.
Is there a better left foot in the world than Liverpool's John Arne Riise? If you mention Roberto Carlos, we have nothing to discuss. Also, with increased support, Kuyt looks real good, as I sort of predicted in the CL post.
Lampard shoved all my comments about his wayward shooting with a nice PK and a lovely second goal from about 18 yards to earn Chelsea a late victory at Fulham. When Joe Cole returns, I would sit Ballack and not Essien. Tough decision, but thats why they pay me the big bucks (They=google, big bucks= not a penny).
The Villa revial continues, as the does the Charlton slide. Does anyone have any info/insight on the youngster Gabriel Abgonlahor? Was wondering why O'Neill was playing him every match, but he sure showed why with a lovely goal, and almost a second. On both plays, he embarassed Hermann Hreidarsson, blowing right by the Icelandic defender, who looked totally at sea.
posted by the idiot at 8:51 PM
1 Comments:
Boris,
Largely agree w your assessment - will write about in today's post.
Post a Comment
<< Home