Weekend EPL Thoughts
I've watched the Hunt/Cech incident aboout 15 times and am still ambivalent about how much to blame Hunt was. It was a ball Cech had, but I couldn't tell if Hunt was slipping or purposefully dragging his knee. Either way it was frightening and Cech's career is in some doubt. Chelsea is left with Hilario in goal to face Barcelona on Wendesday in a must-see match (on ESPN2 at 2:45pm EDT). We will also see Eidur Gidjohnsen's return to Stamford Bridge with a Barcelona side now counting on him for some goals in Eto'o's absence.
I knew Angel would hit the score sheet if given time. Great header, too. Oops. Just a nightmare match for him, gifting a toothless Tottenham side a lucky draw at Villa Park. Agbonlohar did well to earn the penalty that Angel missed, and what a great goal (with the right foot) by Gareth Barry to salvage a point.
Newcastle really controlled the first half against Bolton, making up for a distinct aerial disadvatage by pressuring Bolton w their mighty mite middies - Parker, Emre, Duff, and Solano - and not letting Bolton deliver those aerial balls into the box. It worked remarkably well - I have never seen Bolton look worse than they did in the 1st half. They were down 1-0 but if Ramage hadn't blasted over an open net it could have been worse. I was thinking the story line of the match was Newcastle's tactics and Anelka not working yet (or ever). Le Sulk was invisible and ineffective in the lst half.
Then after a brief spell of continued Newcastle dominance to begin the 2nd half (and a solid save by Jaskelainen on Martens), the game totally swtiched. Anelka pounced on a missed header and set up Djiouff with an open net for the equalizer. Djiouff was drawing fouls (and jeers) and one iffy one near the midfield line turned into a Bolton special. Davies easily winning a flick header over 3 Newcastle defenders and Djiouff knowing to gamble and calmly heading home the winner.
It could have been worse from there - Anelka, now energized, started running again and just missed the far corner after a lovely move on the left. Djiouff was infuriating, and single-handedly wasted about 10 minutes with posession, fouls, and time spent on turf rolling and looking for the ref (I bet on Bolton to win, so I loved it). Sam subbed him off eventually, knowing Newcastle was doing everything they could to wind him up and bait him into a second yellow card.
I could not tell if Newcastle was just exhausted and unable to keep up the pace they created with their pressure or if Bolton just adjusted to it at halftime. I still think it is a good way to counteract Bolton, a side that every team in the Prem has had trouble with over the last 3 years. I actually thought much-malignedTitus Bramble played quite well in the back for Newcastle.
Lastly, in the Monday fixture Fulham endured a horrendous first half against struggling Charlton. Coleman played McBride and Helguson together up front w Radzinski and Routledge on the wings to provide balls for them into the box. But the two wingers couldn't create anything (and McBride offered little with his few touches).
Meanwhile, Charlton looked really bright, particularly Dennis Romedahl, who was the most influential player on the pitch. But they could not capitalize and the second half was controlled by Fulham, with Rommedahl disappearing and Fulham revitalized by sub Klaus Jensen. Jensen set-up the first goal by drawing a foul and scored the clincher on a far-too-easy move through the Charlton defense.
I knew Angel would hit the score sheet if given time. Great header, too. Oops. Just a nightmare match for him, gifting a toothless Tottenham side a lucky draw at Villa Park. Agbonlohar did well to earn the penalty that Angel missed, and what a great goal (with the right foot) by Gareth Barry to salvage a point.
Newcastle really controlled the first half against Bolton, making up for a distinct aerial disadvatage by pressuring Bolton w their mighty mite middies - Parker, Emre, Duff, and Solano - and not letting Bolton deliver those aerial balls into the box. It worked remarkably well - I have never seen Bolton look worse than they did in the 1st half. They were down 1-0 but if Ramage hadn't blasted over an open net it could have been worse. I was thinking the story line of the match was Newcastle's tactics and Anelka not working yet (or ever). Le Sulk was invisible and ineffective in the lst half.
Then after a brief spell of continued Newcastle dominance to begin the 2nd half (and a solid save by Jaskelainen on Martens), the game totally swtiched. Anelka pounced on a missed header and set up Djiouff with an open net for the equalizer. Djiouff was drawing fouls (and jeers) and one iffy one near the midfield line turned into a Bolton special. Davies easily winning a flick header over 3 Newcastle defenders and Djiouff knowing to gamble and calmly heading home the winner.
It could have been worse from there - Anelka, now energized, started running again and just missed the far corner after a lovely move on the left. Djiouff was infuriating, and single-handedly wasted about 10 minutes with posession, fouls, and time spent on turf rolling and looking for the ref (I bet on Bolton to win, so I loved it). Sam subbed him off eventually, knowing Newcastle was doing everything they could to wind him up and bait him into a second yellow card.
I could not tell if Newcastle was just exhausted and unable to keep up the pace they created with their pressure or if Bolton just adjusted to it at halftime. I still think it is a good way to counteract Bolton, a side that every team in the Prem has had trouble with over the last 3 years. I actually thought much-malignedTitus Bramble played quite well in the back for Newcastle.
Lastly, in the Monday fixture Fulham endured a horrendous first half against struggling Charlton. Coleman played McBride and Helguson together up front w Radzinski and Routledge on the wings to provide balls for them into the box. But the two wingers couldn't create anything (and McBride offered little with his few touches).
Meanwhile, Charlton looked really bright, particularly Dennis Romedahl, who was the most influential player on the pitch. But they could not capitalize and the second half was controlled by Fulham, with Rommedahl disappearing and Fulham revitalized by sub Klaus Jensen. Jensen set-up the first goal by drawing a foul and scored the clincher on a far-too-easy move through the Charlton defense.
posted by the idiot at 3:44 PM
1 Comments:
I know - Angel wanted to make up for the missed PK so badly - was gonna win that defensive header no matter what. Villa maybe should try Petrov on PKs - feel like Barry has missed quite a few himself.
Yeah Arsenal looks exciting - Walcott looked fabulous in int'l matches and really looks to add something meaningful to the Arsenal attack. So fun to watch.
Speaking of the Chelsea challenge- am at half of Ch/Barca CL match - Drogba might not play 2nd half - looks punch drunk from a blow to the head. Sheva looks awful. Cashley is getting torched by Messi. Throw in the GK worries and there might be some legit concern for Chelsea in the prem.
I think Arsenal will have the best chance to challenge. Man U has a shot, but I think they are too short in the midfield. Liverpool is getting too far back and not showing signs of life yet.
Btw, the ref is giving the GKs crazy protection post Cech/Cuddicini incidents. 3x he has whistled and the attacker did nothing - 1x Gudjohnsen just standing there while Hilario flailed.
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