What a weekend. Screw the Superbowl, this is what real football is all about. Records broken, two eight-goal thrillers, huge shocks and the comeback to end all (Premier League) comebacks. It is weekends such as the one just gone where it is hard to argue that there is a better league in world football than the Barclay’s Premier League. As the smoke settles and goal posts around the country take a well deserved rest, what did we really learn over this momentous weekend of football?
There is no uglier, yet effective team than Stoke City
The weekend started as it meant to go on, with a five-goal battle royale between Stoke City and Sunderland. Stoke are the perfect advertisement for middle-aged football; they opitimise all the old preconceptions of English football. Any team playing at the Britannia Stadium can expect a ninety-minute dose of kick and rush football that would do the Green Bay Packers proud. Do Stoke fans care? Do they hell and why should they? As the three, almost identical, set piece goals against Steve Bruce’s side demonstrated; Tony Pulis’s side play to their strengths in the same way Barcelona do. It would be ridiculous for the Blaugrana to lump the ball up to little Leo Messi, just as it would for a Stoke City side, with players such as John Carew and Rory Delap, to try and imitate the tika-taka of the Spanish champions. Criticism will always come from the aesthetes of the football world but as long as they continue to gather points at home there is absolutely no reason for Tony Pulis and his side to change tactics.
Manchester United are in desperate need of both a leader and some flair
Manchester United may have been unbeaten until they fell to Wolves on Saturday but they have deserved to lose on a multitude of occasions thus far, and on Saturday their luck finally ran out. Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides have always prided themselves on their attacking menace, on the showing at the weekend; this side doesn’t share the same ideology. Bar Nani’s early goal, the only save Wayne Hennessey had to make was from the most blatant handball since a certain Diego Maradona. United simply lacked the creative flair to break down Wolves, with Rooney misfiring again and Dimitar Berbatov taking part in another disappearing act, United offered absolutely nothing. They are longing for a player to operate between the midfield and the strikeforce, a David Silva or a Luka Modric.
The game also demonstrated United’s other great flaw, with Rooney seemingly no longer capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck, United lack someone to drive them forward. Bryan Robson or Roy Keane would have never allowed that performance under their watch. Darren Fletcher used to be capable of it, but the Scot looks a pale reflection of how he was playing last season. Irrespective of whether they go on to win the League, this summer will be huge for Manchester United; they need investment but can the Glazer’s provide it?
Torres’s arrival could force out Drogba
With a combined market worth of £90 million, Carlo Ancelotti would have been expecting more than one shot on target from his strike force during the loss against Liverpool. Integrating Torres into the Chelsea side will either take time as they attempt to adapt to a new formation, or it will involve the demotion of Drogba or Anelka. After his no show on Sunday, Drogba is arguably the most at risk. Unlike Anelka he doesn’t possess the mobility to play deeper or in a wider position and his current form at the head of Chelsea’s attack doesn’t reinforce his position in the starting line up.
Drogba’s game is all about power, battering opposition defences into submission. During the last few months, maybe due to his malaria, Drogba just hasn’t been doing this and despite goals in his last two appearances, the Ivorian just hasn’t been finding the net as often as he used to and at 32 years of age, he could be looking at the end of his Chelsea career. Roman Abramovich isn’t going to let his record signing sit on the bench, leaving Ancelotti with tough decisions to make.
The old Arsenal are back
After a Champion-esque performance against Everton and another exquisite half against Newcastle, the Arsenal of old returned at St. James Park. Manchester United, Chelsea or Manchester City would never have conceded four goals in a half even after losing a man. Arsenal receded back into the naïve side they have been for the last two campaigns, conceding sloppy goals and panicking under pressure. I cannot think of any side that has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous so quickly. Even with ten men, Arsenal possess the quality to keep the ball for long periods of times, the second half should have been akin to a training game.
The result could define their season, had they won, they would have found themselves two points behind Manchester United and despite Robin Van Persie’s proclamations on twitter, they would have found the league truly in their own hands. To think, Newcastle are a side struggling for goals, yet still managed to put four past the Gunners. The omens aren’t looking good ahead of the clash with the free scoring Barcelona.
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1) Stoke are a disgrace. Terrible football, awful to watch. They deserve their place on results alone, but thats it. No one will be crying when they eventually go back down.
2) Man U have been a bit lucky at times, but have done well at getting the results they need. I dont think one loss at Wolves changes that.
3) Will Phil Dowd be refereeing against Barca? If not, then I am sure the Gunners will take whatever the result is with good grace.
“1) Stoke are a disgrace. Terrible football, awful to watch. They deserve their place on results alone, but thats it. No one will be crying when they eventually go back down.”
We have been hearing it for 3 years mate – go back to watching your selected MOTD highlights.
Of course the mecca of purist football that is Sunderland, Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn and so on would never play direct football right?
We wont be going back down
We’re here to stay.
Deal with it.
We’re hardly a disgrace, disgrace is something I associated with Arsenal, Fabregas, Arsene Wenger… diving, cheating, spitting, scum bags basically
Wind ya neck in you idiot