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Sunderland 1 - 0 ARSENAL
I had a bad feeling about this game. I don't know why... just one of those hunches. I'd had a great week up until that point, so something had to go wrong somewhere and as they have done perennially during the 21 years of my supportership and Arsenal didn't disappoint me as we succumbed to a Sunderland team that didn't offer all that much themselves (save for Lorik Cana who is absolutely mustard and was the player I wanted le Boss to sign in the Summer) and which raised serious questions about the team's title-winning credentials - thoughts echoed by the Manager in his post-match interview.
There's not much to say about the game itself, in fairness. We were injury-ravaged, missing Bendtner, Diaby (HURRAH!), van Persie, Clichy, Gibbs and with Andrey Arshavin only fit enough for the bench after not arriving back from THE POINTLESS FUCKING INTERNATIONAL BREAK until Friday and never got started. Sunderland did what crap teams do against Arsenl and spent the first quarter of an hour 'getting up 'em early' and our team of young Superstars didn't fancy that, coupled with the adverse weather conditions.
We didn't create much throughout the game - a Cesc Fabregas half-chance that came back off the angle of post and bar (why has nobody ever found a name for that?) and Eduardo failing to get a decent shot out from under his feet were the two 'highlights', and Sunderland offered fuck all save for a pot-shot here and there.
The only goal was typical of this Arsenal team and should the manager decide to put his hand in his pocket in January then he needs to look at a new goalkeeper as a matter of urgency. Corner comes in, Arsenal fail to clear, 'keeper has a confused 'Where Am I?' expression across his Boat Race more closely akin to that sported by Lloyd Daniels on every X-Factor live show (Stacy to win, by the way), and the ball falls to unmarked attacker who lashes home from close range.
The goal wasn't Almunia's fault per se, but aside from shot-stopping a goalkeeper's main other role is to bellow at and organise the defence at corners and when the team is on the back foot. Wenger regularly describes our hapless Spanish Waiter as 'a nice guy'. That's a charge you couldn't possibly level at his predecessor, the erstwhile 'Mad' Jens Lehmann, who was not a nice bloke by any stretch of the imagination... but he was a hell of a goalkeeper though, and would often be seen bellowing at his defenders and shouting if he wanted the ball and Almunia simply doesn't do it and it's disturbing and unacceptable. Aside from the Manchester United team with Mark Bosnich, a team with a crap keeper has never won the League and unless we rectify this ASAP then we certainly won't be the exception to that rule.
The thing is, after the goal we failed to pick ourselves up and threaten a the Sunderland goal at all. Carlos Vela was fouled in the box but after the Season Arsenal strikers past and present have had so far with antics in the penalty area there was more chance of Jedward surviving the Results Show then there was of us getting a spot kick away from home, and we shouldn't have to rely on penalties to beat a team whose goalie is called 'Flop'.
And that was that. Game over, 0-1, me thoroughly pissed off, day effectively ruined. I didn't even get to go out and drown my sorrows after having had a 12 hour session the day before and was well and truly wedged onto my sofa. Fuck it.
Still... it's only the unstoppable force that is Chelsea next week. Oh bollocks.
Star man: Alex Song was the best of a bad bunch. Consistently breaking up attacks and Sunderland couldn't find a way around his omnipresence in front of the Arsenal back four. However, when he is also the brightest attacking spark in the team there's something wrong because for all of his qualities, Alex is not a footballer.
Worst performer: With Robin van Persie and his placenta gook-covered leg out of action for the next six weeks, this was Eduardo's big chance to shine. After having played second or third fiddle up until now this year, he now has a clean run to remind us how good he was getting before Martin Taylor 'got into him early' in February 2008. But he was woeful on Saturday - failed to create space for himself and when the one chance presented itself, he didn't put it away. Call me nit-picking and perfectionist if you like, but if Torres and Drogba only get one chance they will score it. Arsenal simply haven't got a player you could entrust that responsiblity to.
Best moment: I had sex twice on Saturday morning and I thought that Joe was outstanding on the X-Factor on Saturday evening. Nothing in the game, though. Well, Theo Walcott and Denilson returning to the first team squad was something, I suppose, but it's hardly the same as Liverpool getting Torres and Gerrard back.
Tactics: Far be it for me to question the brilliance of Arsene Wenger, but there are still some flaws in this squad. As mentioned above, we are in desperate of someone to organise the defence. With William Gallas rumoured to be courting both Milan clubs for a longer contract than the one year that Wenger will inevitably offer him, then the summer may hopefully see a leader of men come into the squad. And a new goalkeeper please. One other thing also came to mind on seeing the line-up on Saturday and that was that whilst we do have some serious strength this year compared to the two previous seasons, a lot of our 'depth' is similar. For example, with Arshavin and Walcott (two little inside forwards by trade with quick feet) fit enough only for the bench and van Persie (left-footed centre forward) injured, we replaced them with Tomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri (two little inside forwards by trade with quick feet) and Eduardo (left-footed centre forward). All good players, but there's no plan 'B' in our squad when Bendtner is injured. The situation was probably best exemplified when Eduardo was substituted for Carlos Vela... one left-footed, not quite quick enough and a little bit fat South American centre-forward for another.
Chant of the game: By all accounts the Arsenal travelling supporters were about as up for the game as the players were - if you travel 300 miles to one of the grottier Northern outposts then surely the least you will do is sing?
Oppo fans: Didn't stop singing for 90 minutes - Love their Club and are the best fans I've seen in the flesh. However, a word about their stewards from my correspondent on the front line... "was sat in front row and as soon as game started stewards in blue were telling us to sit down. when the chants of stand if you hate Tottenham/for the Arsenal, they were dragging people out. I was threatened with ejection for giving a V sign to their fans. i hear some Gooners complained to police and the police told the stewards to calm down cos they were causing alot of anger amongst our fans". Do we REALLY want football COMPLETELY sanitised?
David Oudôt, http://www.onlinegooner.com and http://taxloser.blogspot.com
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Burnley 1-1 ASTON VILLA
Awful game: dull, grey and wet, just like the weather. First half we were shocking, second half we resorted to hoof ball and brought on Emile Heskey when all seemed lost. I posted in my forum 30 seconds before 'come on Emile, I'd love to see him score today' corner in (from Downing I think) and hey presto, 1-1.
Burnley will probably feel hard done by as they looked the more cultured team in truth but hey, a draw away from home is never a disgrace and especially when you think who Burnley have beaten at Turf Moor this season including Manure.
Star man: well, I'm not convinced this game had any 'stars' really but hey, Heskey takes a lot of flack from Villa fans and he scored so let's give it to him!
Best moment: Not being miserable but the final whistle, as entertainment goes, this was a b list movie at best. Burnley dominated for large portions of this game and with the money Villa have spent, we shouldn't really be saying that.
Tactics? Yes please, they would be nice sometimes....! Hoofball appears to be our tactics, ok we got a draw but for large parts of this game and because of the same tactics we always deploy, Burnley had the measure of us. Boring footie I'm afraid but we are the first this season to get a point there I believe so hey, you've got to take that especially when we only usually play one half.
Chant of the game: There's only one Emile Heskey, One Emile Heskey. He used to be shite, but now he's alright, walking in a Heskey wonderland!
Oppo fans: Not got much to say, they seemed to be enjoying themselves though!
Jonathan Fear, www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk
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BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 - 0 Fulham
This was a game of two halves in that Birmingham only bothered to play the in the first one. The day had begun well (Other than getting soaked) as I went along to a supporters meeting with the new Chief Executive. It was good to see the new board making efforts to build bridges with the fans. After getting wet again I got to my seat and the game started. Fulham were the brightest early on. Bobby Zamora got away from Ridgewell with a lovely bit of skill, ran into the box but at the last minute remembered he was Bobby Zamora and shot well wide. James McFadden then began to take over putting in a couple of good balls before finding Bowyer for the goal. Bowyer's finish was brilliant and he deserved the goal for the industry he showed all game. Who'd have thought he would be our top scorer so far this season?
The rest of the game saw not a lot of chances and so many throw ins in the bottom left hand corner that I got neck ache. The second half was all Fulham but on the few occasions that they carved out a chance, Joe Hart denied them. Not much else to report, it was a dour game on a really nasty wet day.
Not a great performance but three points is three points. We may not be pretty, we may not score many goals but we are very difficult to beat. Bring on the Dogheads next Sunday.
Star man: McFadden in the first half. Roger Johnson in the second.
Worst performer: Chucho Benitez had his worst game for us. Probably didn't like the weather.
Best moment: The goal.
Tactics: Not bad. It was a good idea to bring on an extra midfielder in the second half. Not sure about the plan to launch all goal kicks onto McFadden's head.
Chant of the game: Too cold to chant!
Oppo fans: There were only 700 of them, but for some reason we decided to allocate 4,000 seats to them, which made for a very strange sight. Fair play to the ones that made the effort though.
Mike, www.joysandsorrows.co.uk
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Bolton 0 - 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS
Rovers finally got their first away points of the season thanks to a convincing win over our derby rivals at the Reebok Stadium. Not only that, we achieved a clean sheet AND back to back wins!
With Big Sam sat at home awaiting heart surgery, Neil McDonald took over. Whatever he did, he did a great job - even if it was just relaying Sam's instructions. To see Rovers' attacking the opposition away from home was so refreshing!
Okay, Bolton weren't brilliant and the first half was pretty even. David Dunn's brilliantly taken goal came from a breakaway after Bolton had hit the woodwork, but in the second half it was all Rovers.
Excellent goalkeeping by Jaaskelainen, two goal line clearances by McCann and poor finishing kept Bolton in the game until Sam Ricketts showed the Rovers' strikers how to finish with fifteen minutes left.
A great all round performance gave Rovers exactly what they deserved.
Star Man: Dunn was brilliant again, and I thought Brett Emerton was back to his best!
Worst performer: El-Hadj Diouf - seemed very lethargic.
Best moment: Sam Ricketts own goal - it was comic capers defending but gave us a two goal cushion.
Tactics: 4-4-2, I'll repeat that - 4-4-2! We've been crying out for it all season - and it worked wonders (against a poor Bolton side I might add)!
Chant of the game: "Jingle Bells, Jingle bells, jingle all the way - Oh what fun it is to see the Rovers win away!" I thought we would never sing that again!
Oppo fans: Were there any? Oh yes, I heard a few chanting "Megson for Scotland"
Pete Anslow, www.4000holes.co.uk
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BOLTON 0 - 2 Blackburn Rovers 2
Just when things were starting to look good for Bolton, it all goes pear shaped once again. After a good run through September and October, Wanderers have now lost their last four games, conceding 15 goals in the process and scoring only once.
In a Lancashire derby which only Sky can explain was televised, both sides seemed happy to let the other have the ball. Misplaced passes were aplenty and it was the visitors who made the most of Bolton's generousity.
After Matt Taylor saw a deflected free-kick come back off the bar, Blackburn countered and the slowest player on the field managed to outpace the entire Wanderers team to enter the box unnoticed and flick a superb effort into the corner, despite Jussi Jaaskelainen's best attempts.
Taylor tried his best to earn the record of most shots in one game without a goal, even heading wide from a yard out before the break.
After the restart, a sense of nervousness coming from the stands made its way onto the pitch and Blackburn sealed the points late on when Jaaskelainen failed to make simple communication with Sam Ricketts, who headed into his own net for what will probably go down as Rovers' goal of the season!
Dissent towards the manager soon followed from the crowd and as the full time whistle went, echoes of boos roared around the Reebok. These are testing times for Bolton and should they not escape the bottom three by Christmas, it is highly likely they will remain there until the final whistle in May.
Star man: Jlloyd Samuel - Attacked well down the left flank. One of only a few Bolton players who looked interested.
Worst performer: Johan Elmander. Scored last time out against Villa and was rewarded with a start, but after this he should be back on the bench.
Best moment: Full time?
Tactics: A 4-4-2 with Davies and Elmander in attack sounds ok on the face of it, but with Muamba and McCann as the two central midfielders we lacked creativity in the middle of the pitch and with Gardner and Taylor struggling on the flanks, Blackburn took full control of the midfield.
Chant of the game: "Megson for Scotland!" - From a small corner of home fans located behind the goal.
Oppo fans: They just love coming to the Reebok. Despite the game being on the telly, they brought good numbers and went home happy that they once again sent their rivals packing.
Chris Mann, www.burndenaces.co.uk
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BURNLEY 1 - 1 Aston Villa
All Clarets fans at the start of this season, our first in the top flight for 33 years, would have taken a point at home against Aston Villa so the 1-1 draw in Saturday’s Battle of the Claret & Blue was not a complete disappointment. At the end of the day this was a valuable point against a team expected to do big things this year and a team 5th in the table at the start of this match.
I thought we played exceptionally well under torrid conditions of sweeping rain and gusty winds and we were unlucky not to come away with all three points. A goal by Heskey with just four minutes of the game remaining was a disappointing end to the match and took away some of the gloss after the lads had played some impressive stuff especially in the first half.
In the first half we thoroughly deserved to take the lead in the 9th minute after Steven Caldwell headed home from a Blake free kick and for most of the remainder of the half we continued to press and take the game to the Villans. The Clarets had ample opportunity to double their lead but it just wasn’t to be.
We took our foot of the gas slightly in the second half although it looked like we had contained them until Jensen decided to punch the ball clear from a corner instead of catch it with 86 minutes on the clock. The ball fell to Milner who whipped it into the box for pesky Heskey to equalise. We still had our fair crack at the whip on the attack though and Villa did not have it all their own way by any means.
After we eased off in the second half, a draw was probably a fair result in the end but Villa certainly didn’t look like a team gunning for a top four spot especially when you consider the Internationals and supposed quality in their side. I thought we matched them for long periods in this match and indeed on occasions it was the Clarets who were by far the most impressive in defence, midfield and attack.
If we continue to play like this, survival will be well within our grasp and I think at long last the pundits are beginning to agree and handing out far more compliments than we used to get. Our attractive style of play and grim determination to battle against all the odds is paying dividends and after Saturday’s results we were actually in 9th spot which you have to admit for a club like ours is pretty impressive. Owen Coyle has found the magic from somewhere to turn one of the smallest squads in the Premier League, paid the smallest salaries into one of the most highly motivated machines in the league. We don’t seem daunted by anybody and we now have to ensure we can maintain this consistency at least on home soil.
Star man: Robbie Blake, the magician ran rings round Villa at times and thoroughly deserved the Sponsors' Man of the Match award. There were also creditable performance from all of the back four, Andre Bikey in midfield and Fletcher in attack.
Worst performer: Wade Elliott seemed to have an off day as though someone had told him not to charge forward and to stay back at all costs. We seemed to miss his darting surges and some of his passing at times was a little wayward.
Tactics: 4-1-4-1 and they had done their homework. We played has a tight machine and everybody seemed to know their role linking well from defence, through midfield to attack. Just a pity we couldn’t keep that concentration going for the full 90 minutes and had to suffer Villa’s late equaliser
Chant of the game: Nothing particularly novel in this match, although the jibes from the Villans that “We Are Going Down’ was a bit rich considering how well we were playing against them at the time.
Oppo fans: To be fair to the Villans they were a noisy bunch and came in their droves. I think they sold all their ticket allocation, it sounded and looked like it anyway. It all made for an electric atmosphere with the whole crowd a mass of Claret & Blue. Spirits were lifted by the chanting from both sides on what to be honest was an atrocious day weather-wise. The noise spurred on both teams it seemed to make this match an entertaining one despite the weather conditions.
Best moment: Off the pitch: Drying out after getting sodding drenched walking back to the car!
On the pitch: Generally counting how many Villa internationals were having an off-day and being outplayed by the Clarets.
‘Turfman’ Phil Lea, www.burnley.vitalfootball.co.uk
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CHELSEA 4 - 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Like watching football on fastforward, our passing was so quick. Tried to give Wolves a helping hand by leaving out the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Branislav Ivanovic, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco.
It was like at school when you have two teams of vastly differing abilities, and rules were concocted before the game to try and level the playing field. Rush ‘keepers, one team starting four goals ahead, at least five passes before you shoot. In this case, we just started with half our team missing - the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Branislav Ivanovic, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco amongst others - and still had Wolves on the run, crying to the dinner ladies.
Have you ever watched football on fastforward? At times during the first-half it was as if someone had sat on an imaginary remote control as Chelsea pinged the ball about like nobody's business. Wolves afforded us too much space - or rather, we earned it through our inventive play - and it was epitomised by Florent Malouda’s opener, when he picked up the ball just past the half-way line, took five or six touches, and banged one into the top corner from distance.
Michael Essien found himself unmarked twice and finished twice and by 25 minutes the game was over, with Mick McCarthy looking even more downbeat than usual.
The second-half saw a collective foot taken off the pedal as we saw out the last 45, with Joe Cole knocking in a fourth early on heralding the arrival of a few youngsters , including the infamous Gael Kakuta. With Arsenal losing against Sunderland - prompting a large cheer - we trundle on. Can anyone stop us?
Star man: Malouda had a great game, underlined by a screamer to open the scoring. He stepped up in the absence of many first-team regulars and led by example.
Worst performer: Come on, it was 4-0! There wasn’t one.
Best moment: The whole 90 minutes were electric. It’s going to be a great title race!
Tactics: As fluid as the ocean, with players popping up where they technically shouldn’t and some lovely passing all over the pitch. Can’t fault it and I take my hat off to Mr Ancelotti.
Chant of the game: The cheer for our new number ‘44’ Kakuta was impressive seeing as he has never appeared for the first-team before.
Oppo fans: Two words: ‘Shoes off!’ As for the ‘4-0, and you still don’t sing’, well, we’ll just gloss over that one...
Rowan Farnham-Long, www.cfcnet.co.uk
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Man Utd 2 - 0 EVERTON
I hate Old Trafford!
Not just because we get webbed every time we go there.
Not just because all the pubs around the ground have bouncers on - frigging bouncers - that charge you to go in for a bevvy...you have to pay just to get in to the Old Trafford pubs.
Not just because those same bouncers check your ticket then send you to a pub they say is the away fans pub and when you walk in it's something out of The Firm - complete with 1980's zig-zag wallpaper - but the knuckle draggers in there are also singing Hillsborough songs amongst their repetoire of anti-scouse dirges!
And not just because every fucker in there seems to have a digital camera to hand that they whip out with alarming frequency to capture every moment at the Theatre of fucking Dreams.
No, I simply hate Old Trafford because Man United play there!
Anyway, rant aside and this result had an air of inevitibility about it that only an encounter between these two sides can have!
United had all of the early possession but never really threatened Tim Howard in Everton's goal thanks to a combination of stubborn defending by the Blues and some wayward finishing from United.
Half an hour had gone by and the score was still nil nil and things were looking good for the Blues as we'd soaked up all the United pressure and were beginning to get a foot hold in the game.
Then Darren Fletcher hit the shot of his life and the Everton end collectively sank.
There didn't appear to be too much danger as Ryan Giggs' cross was headed out of the Everton area by United's Antonio Valencia - particularly as the ball was only going to fall to Darren Fletcher and he's not known for his Mark Hughes style volleys....oh piss off!
Sure enough, Fletcher hit sweet a volley as you'll ever see, right into the top corner, and United went into the interval one up.
Everton started the second half well, with Yakubu joining Louis Saha up front, but for all the fresh attacking impetus the Blues were restricted to a couple of wayward efforts from the two strikers.
Tim Cahill was then played in after a neat one-two with Yakubu but the Australian couldn't quite reach the ball before the onrushing Edwin van der Sar and the chance went begging.
But the signs were good as Everton, far from performing their usual capitulation, were taking the game to United who, as in the first half, failed to really trouble Tim Howard.
That was until Wayned Rooney hit a dog, no, a ball bag, no, a twat of a shot - let's be blunt about this - that was headed out for a throw in but fell to Ryan Giggs on it's way to the touchline.
The Welshman played a great ball to the onrushing Michael Carrick who side footed an effort past Tim Howard to double United's lead.
If anyone in the Everton end thought that we might still be in with a shout, and if they did they didn't let it show, then their blind optimism will have vanished as United added a fortunate third ten minutes later.
Paul Scholes - one of the snidest players ever to pull on a shirt, look at his eyes for Christ's sake - slid the ball through to Valencia whose poor shot was headed straight for Tim Howard before it hit the outstretched leg of Leighton Baines and looped over the Everton 'keeper.
All that was left was for Marouane Fellaini, who had his best game in ages, to head a clear cut chance over the bar - we don't even get consolation goals at Old Trafford.
And so, once again, Evertonians left Old Trafford dejected by another defeat and that leaves us with just one win in nine with Hull away and that lot from across the park up next!
Best performer: Yakubu - made a massive difference to the Blues when he came on to narrowly edge out a good performance from Marouane Fellaini.
Worst performer: Couldn't really single anyone out for criticism.
Tactics: The team is still picking itself to all intents and purposes but Moyes made a bold change at half time in going 4-4-2 as there wasn't a lot to fear from this United team...still put three past us though!
Away fans: Camera-toting cockneys! Whoppers!
Chant of the game: The Kai Rooney chants were sick and no doubt we'll come in for mountains of abuse for a few the chants of a few helmets! Watch the United fans get on their high horses now!
Les Roberts, www.eveton-mad.co.uk
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Birmingham 1 - 1 FULHAM
Our recent run of fine form, a run that had seen Roy Hodgson crowned manager of the month, was washed away at a wet and windy St Andrews.
To say the conditions were inclement was perhaps a bit of an understatement, I’m sure I saw Lee Bowyer flick the winning shot over Mark Schwarzer with a paddle!
Fulham seemed to be hesitant to get involved in the conditions and it wasn’t until late in the game that matters changed and that came when Damien Duff was finally introduced.
Clint Dempsey produced a good effort but Joe Hart produced a save that was to break our hearts.
Hopefully we can get things back on track against Blackburn this Wednesday but the shame of it, losing to Birmingham, now that hurt!
Best performer: – Clint Dempsey – Asked to play up front after the late withdrawal of Erik Nevland and ran his heart out without much luck.
Worst performer: – The bloke controlling the weather – totally messed up any chance of a decent game he did!
Best moment: Getting back into the car, starting the engine and getting dry again courtesy of the car heater!
Tactics: Roy Hodgson may just have made a blooper by not using Damien Duff from the start. Okay, so he was upset Roy but come on, he’s supposed to be a man isn’t he!
Chant of the Game: We’re singing in the rain, we’re singing in the rain…………” Well, perhaps not but it would have been ironic would it have not?
Oppo fans: An alien species who talked with a strange tongue. 25,000 Jasper Carrots going mental when Lee Bowyer scored!
Andrew Joyce,
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HULL CITY 3 - 3 West Ham
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LIVERPOOL 2 - 2 Man City
Early kick-offs are never conducive to a good atmosphere, as was proved again on Saturday with a dead squib against the other mancs at Anfield. There is a feeling of apprehension running through Liverpool presently, right from the management to the players to the fans. Things had started so promisingly too...
In the first 5 minutes, Given pulled off a worldy to save from Skrtel with Agger getting injured in a clash of heads in the process. After a long delay, Babel almost had his foot broke when shooting into a block tackle by De Jong. Less than 20 mins gone, gameplan out the window and two players substituted (along with another on a yellow card in Carragher). That was about it for excitement in the first half, both teams were cagey - City especially with 10 men behind the ball.
The second half started similarly, enlivened by the goal from a setpiece by Skrtel. Great ball by Gerrard, good finish by a player who had never scored before for Liverpool. The equalising goal looked to be coming as (per usual recently) the team didn't kick on from taking the lead and retreated, giving possession to City. A routine corner wasn't dealt with and Adebayor headed well to equalise. Much is made of our very poor record at defending set pieces, every goal conceded in attributed to zonal marking and, by proxy, the manager. It goes without saying there is a problem there presently and it needs to be addressed. I am not saying that zonal is the issue, far from it as I believe it is individual errors. Skrtel has recently assumed the mantle held by Carragher at the start of the season, by letting his man get free and score. Critics of zonal say that a man who has a running start will always beat one with a standing start. Well Adebayor moved all of 30cm to score, so he didn't get a jump on anyone. The ball was in Skrtel's zone to attack and he feel asleep. Critics of zonal like Andy Gray advocate a man on the post, clearly this is zonal also, however there is little chance of Teenwolf Keys or Top player Redknapp picking up on this.
Shortly afterwards we were picked open by some good play and Ireland, whilst clearly offside, made it 2-1 to City. You could hear the knives sharpening again. Within less than a minute it was 2-2 with Yossi turning the ball in after some good work by the ever-improving N'gog. Eyebrows were raised when Yossi was subbed for Aurelio and Aquilani was left on the bench. Whilst Aquaman certainly needs time on the pitch, it was the correct substitution in retrospect. Wright-Phillips was giving Insua a torrid time and Aurelio stopped that immediately, given us control of the game again.
Overall, 2-2 was a fair result as neither side really did enough to win. The pressure continues to be on Rafa and will be until he can turn it around. Hughes, off the back of 6 straight draws, is flying under the radar however will be the next focus of the press when we start winning again (whenever that will be). Big games this week at Debrecen and Everton, wins essential. Moyes is another who could feel the force of the press, although presently they are being sensible and recognising that his team is depleted and he is a good manager who will turn it around. If only Rafa was given the same courtesy.
Star man: Mascherano had a great game getting back to his best.
Worst performer: Kuyt needs to get the finger out and quick, he hasn't been good this season at all.
Best moment: The equaliser as I really didn't think we would get back into it.
Tactics: Hard to assess the manager on tactics as any gameplan went out the window in the first 20 mins. Only blame I can apportion is that we are too cautious after taking the lead. City didn't play well and were there for the taking although, admittedly, the same could easily be said about us.
Chant of the game: The Rafa chant. Those who go, recognise he is the man for the job.
Oppo fans: Better in previous years. They used to be one of the wittier bunches but are still obsessed with their red neighbours. The Everton of Manchester.
More at http://www.liverpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/
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Liverpool 2 - 2 MAN CITY
This is getting ridiculous now. Six draws on the bounce, the first time we have managed that for 80 odd years. On the face of it a point at Anfield isn’t a bad result, but a Liverpool team bereft of confidence and a number of players were there for the taking. The first half was so unspeakably abject that I won’t bother mentioning it, but the game came to life in the second half after Liverpool took the lead through Martin Skrtel. The goal seemed to jolt City into action, and for the next 30 minutes we were by far the better team, and deservedly found ourselves 2-1 up thanks to goals from the otherwise subdued Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland. Frustratingly, we again failed to defend the lead and Liverpool were level within 60 seconds.
Star man: Nigel de Jong was excellent, and largely kept Steven Gerrard quiet.
Worst performer: Gareth Barry, again. He looks a shadow of the player we saw at the start of the season. Hughes needs to consider dropping him for the next game.
Best moment: The move for Ireland’s goal. Great link-up play between Tevez and SWP, before Ireland finished neatly.
Tactics: This is the source of some debate amongst City fans, with some feeling we lacked ambition, particularly in the first half. However, I think Hughes got it right – we kept Liverpool subdued for the first half, then came out and had a go in the second half. We should really have won the game.
Oppo fans: Seems like the scousers can only raise the noise levels for the big European nights.
Ric Turner, www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk
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MAN UTD 2 - 0 Everton
Manchester United returned to Premier League action after the international break with a comfortable win over Everton. The result, which was desperately required, moved Sir Alex Ferguson’s men into second place, five points behind Chelsea at the head of the table.
United, dominant for large portions of the game, opened the scoring through Darren Fletcher’s outstanding volley. The Scot, who is probably the most improved player in world football, struck home from the edge of the area to give former United ‘keeper Tim Howard no chance.
If Fletcher’s swerving strike was a candidate for goal of the season, then United finally put in a performance worthy of the Scot’s efforts. Recent defeats to Liverpool and then Chelsea have threatened to derail Ferguson’s hopes this season. Not so at Old Trafford where United moved into top gear as Sir Alex asked the team to stay within sight of Chelsea.
Louis Saha, on his first return to Old Trafford since his move to Everton, tested van der Sar with a shot on the turn before substitute Yakubu Aiyegbeni struck narrowly wide, as Everton made a fist of the match in the second period.
But United was able to move “into the comfort zone” according to Ferguson after scoring a second. Wayne Rooney’s shot, picked up by Ryan Giggs at the corner flag, found Michael Carrick to double United’s advantage from the edge of the area.
United wrapped up the victory when Paul Scholes set up Antonio Valencia for the Ecuadorian’s third goal of the season. The winger’s shot deflected off Leighton Baines to beat Howard at the far post.
Ferguson will take heart from the performance, even if Everton was as poor as United good. Post-match the Scot called every game a “must-win” and demanded that his charges hit the Premier League top spot by New Year.
It’ll be a challenge but one that can be met if Fletcher maintains this superb form.
Star man: Darren Fletcher, United’s next captain, was superb once again.
Worst performer: Michael Owen missed two opportunities that he would have scored in his heyday.
Best moment: Fletcher’s wonderful strike is now typical of the man fans once cruelly called The Scottish Player.
Tactics: Ferguson went for little and little up front in Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen. While Rooney will lead England in South Africa, Owen has little hope of making the plane on this form.
Oppo fans: Pretty standard booing of Rooney. They’ll probably need to add Jack Rodwell to the chorus before next summer is out.
Ed Barker, www.unitedrant.co.uk
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Stoke City 1 - 0 PORTSMOUTH
How did we lose this game? WHY does this keep happening to us?
We play really well, or was it that Stoke were poor – I like to think us playing well – yet we come away with nothing but another defeat! Our problem seems to be that we cannot create enough openings, we are too narrow and without width you cannot really create – if you cannot create you cannot score – if you cannot score you cannot win...
We had our chance though, but we missed the 1st half penalty, and my what a poor penalty it was! Why did you not just put your boot through it Prince!
I think that we deserved something, but that one really bit of 'class' from the game won it for Stoke. We should not have allowed Ricardo Fuller to turn on the edge of the area, that was criminal.
Star man: I cannot really pick anyone out. I thought Brown has another good game, but so too did O'Hara, who is really up for it – I saw his missus a few rows in front of me again, as I had a few rows back at Hull the other week, I swear Miss Lloyd is stalking me! Like I say it was hard to single one out, but at a push I think I would say Younes Kaboul for his never say die determination and attitude as always.
Worst performer: Again, I cannot pick anyone out really as being 'the worst' as all played fairly well for me and could not really have given much more.
Best moment: Can you have a 'best moment' from a game where you feel you have been robbed? Again! Although I was finding it hilarious that The Herminator kept demanding the ball kids give him the towel to dry the ball for his throw-ins – they did not seem best pleased but he was thinking 'you little gits you give them to the scummer Delap so give them to me', priceless.
Tactics: I think Hart did most things right again, although I think he left it too late to make the first change, and should have made at least one more as soon as Stoke scored – fresh legs up top probably should have come sooner and Kanu should have come off when this arrived. We were too narrow again though; we desperately have to get some width into this side for the reasons mentioned above.
Chant of the game: I do not think I had one. That said, maybe, despite feeling sorry for the Irish, the chant of 'Thierry Henry', you know to the style of the 'champions league, 'avin' a laugh' one towards Liam Lawrence when he took a corner was quite funny – then again I guess he, and Stoke, got the last laugh!
Oppo fans: I have to say really disappointing to be honest – they were meant to be 'the loudest fans in the league last season but they barely uttered a word, until they scored, then they good a bit noisy. When they saw Tuncay getting ready to come on this also sprang them into life.
PLAY UP POMPEY!
Rug, www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk
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STOKE CITY 1 - 0 Portsmouth
Terrible game in awful conditions between two sides who never got going. Thank god Fuller gave us something to cheer about and hopefully he can now push on and grab a few more goals.
Star man: Andy Wilkinson. Totally committed and faultless display from the defender and such a shame he couldn't find the top corner after that late run.
Worst performer: Dean Whitehead didn't particuarly cover himself in glory. A few others who ran him close but he just shades it
Best moment: Fuller's goal. Fantastic one touch football before turning on edge of the box and curling into the bottom corner. One moment of utter class
Tactics: Too defensive and chaotic for the first hour. Game changed when Lawrence came on and we played it along the floor instead of lumping it long.
Chant of the game: Conditions and display led to a quiet crowd on Sunday and nothing really stood out song-wise
Oppo fans: Not many there but can understand as a televised game on a Sunday evening hours and hours away would put most off.
Dan Buxton, http://www.stokecity-mad.co.uk
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SUNDERLAND 1 - 0 Arsenal
Yet again Sunderland run the rule over one of the “top four”, Sunderland showed some balls of steel with some tremendous individual performances.
We were easily equal to the Gooners if not better, Lorik Cana was a legend in the midfield as was De Silva as centre back as much of the game was played in the midfield. Bruce started off with one striker Darren Bent playing up front and a five-man midfield: the likes of Richardson,
Reid and Malbranque all more than capable of scoring goals.
The opening minutes Arsenal had there best chances of the game, but nothing our keeper couldn’t handle. Then a few minutes later they hoofed the ball over the cross-bar. Sunderland got into gear, our first couple of chances came from Malbranque both times he was left unmarked on the edge of the box and both where long range shots which where off target for.
Arsenal followed up will a couple of chances also, but again Fulop made some fairly easy saves.
Second half came and Sunderland came out fighting, again most of it seemed to be a midfield battle between both teams, Andy Reid came close with a free kick which curled just wide of the goal yet Arsenal’s keeper seemed to have it covered regardless. Then is was Andy Reid again that won a corner for Sunderland, whipping it in from the left, the ball seemed to bounce around a cluster of bodies that crowded the box, then BANG its hits the back of the net from a sliding Sunderland player. Running out of the crowds comes non other than Darren Bent, the Stadium of Light was bouncing! We are beating Arsenal and Bent is back to his goal scoring ways. The midfield battle carry’s on with no real attempts until the last minutes of the game where Richardson came close to finishing Arsenal off but an Arsenal defender just got a toe on the ball defecting the ball away.
In typical French style Arsenal where beaten so they tried cheating, Sunderland striker Campbell who came on for Malbranque took the ball off Vela in the Sunderland box, Vela went down and rolled about like a turtle on its back. But the ref was wise to Vela auditions for Platoon the remake, Sunderland held on for the win.
Worst performer: Was a great game all-round, Vela for is play act in injury time.
Star Man: Lorik Cana yet again was out of this world. De Silva and Bent where also fantastic, as was the rest of the team really.
Best moment: Bent's goal: the atmosphere after that was amazing.
Tactics: Bruce got it spot-on, take the game to them attacking all the way, and some no-nonsense tackling that Arsenal couldn't seem to handle.
Chant of the game: “Who are ya?” chants to a whining Frenchman in the dugout, flapping his arms around like he’s trying to fly when his team that never do nothing wrong are getting beat by the mighty Sunderland.
Oppo fans: Very quiet: too busy eating there pre-packed prawn sandwiches.
Daryl Baker, www.Sunderland-Mad.co.uk
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TOTTENHAM 9 - 1 Wigan
What an amazing and record-breaking afternoon at White Hart Lane. Who'd have thought when leading 1-0 at half time that we'd have gone on to fire eight more goals against poor old Chris Kirkland to post our Premier League record 9-1 win against Wigan Athletic.
It was a fantastic performance from each Spurs player, who all looked to be a class above their Wigan counterparts. Spurs played some fantastic football which cut open the away side and will leave Titus Bramble and friends with a few sleepless nights ahead.
For the first fifteen minutes of the second half we did rip Wigan apart and we didn’t stop there as by the end the visitors were shell-shocked, demoralised and in their high-vis orange kit there was nowhere for them to hide. Jermain Defoe was something else, bagging five goals. Bring on Villa next weekend!
Star man: Jermain Defoe - five goals, what else can you say. Aaron Lennon and Niko Kranjcar also stood out in a dazzling display.
Worst perfromer: Wigan from 1-11. An embarrasing performance- I'm sure Martinez will have them in for training in the morning.
Best moment: It has to be the Premier League record-breaking nine goals for us. A memorable afternoon to be a Spurs fan.
Tactics: Harry had it spot on to go with Crouch and Defoe in attack, following Keane's appearance for Ireland in midweek. Both linked up well. Huddlestone, Palacios, Lennon and Kranjcar all played superbly in midfield - which left the back four with a nice and easy afternoon.
Chant of the game: Spurs fans to Wigan's travelling support of what must have been no more than 15 fans - "You're going home in a minibus." and Spurs fans to Robbie Keane "Thierry Henry, you're a c*nt!"
Neil Vaughan, www.spurs-web.com and www.thfctalk.com
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Hull City 3 - 3 WEST HAM
It's been a tough weekend for many clubs at the wrong end of the Premier League.
We have been struggling to get a series of results together, leaving us languishing in the bottom three. On paper this was a no-brainer, we were to make the trip to Humberside and return with three points. A six-pointer which produced six goals, a penalty and a sending off was hardly how two teams rooted in the relegation mire had been expected to perform.
In an end-to-end contest, we seemed to be on our way when Guillermo Franco headed the Hammers in front from a quickly taken corner. When Jack Collison made it two–nil we all believed that we were on our way to a morale-boosting victory.
But in typical West Ham fashion we hit the self destruct button. To be honest, our defence were completely inept. Jimmy Bullard's free kick was deflected into the net by Carlton Cole in the 27th minute. Just before the break they were level following a Zayatte volley from just outside the six-yard box.
To add insult to injury, in first half injury time Julien Faubert was alleged to have fouled Craig Fagan; Bullard made it 3 -2 from the spot. We were reeling; not just the team, the fans too.
The second half was hardly going to live up to the pace of the first 45 minutes. But on 54 minutes Bernard Mendy received his marching orders for a lunge on Scott Parker.
Usually when your opposition is reduced to 10 men you feel quite confident... not us however! Despite this Manuel Da Costa brought us level on 69 minutes, slotting the ball past Matt Duke to earn the Hammers a point.
We most certainly need to strengthen our defence, we ship goals far too easily at present. Worse still, we seem totally incapable of holding onto a lead.
Star man: Scott Parker - incredible engine and work-rate.
Worst performer: Mark Clattenberg - an utter disgrace to his profession (and that's saying something).
Best moment: Phil Brown almost sucking his face inside out after Collison put West Ham 2-0 up.
Tactics: When will we learn? We've finished with a man advantage against Fulham, Sunderland and Hull - yet failed to beat any of them.
HammerJohn, www.kumb.com
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Tottenham 9 - 1 WIGAN
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Chelsea 4 - 0 WOLVES
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