Neutrals Were Not Disappointed
Premier League Sods for 5 November 2007
Arsenal and Manchester United played the match of the season thus far on Saturday, in what was an exciting two-two draw. One could hardly have asked for more than the back and forth play and last minute drama the match provided. The focus was on the twenty year-olds, Rooney and Fabregas, who showed once again why football is “the beautiful game.” The match did not decide the title, but it clearly earmarked who would be fighting for it.
Gunners fans should not be overly optimistic, however. Adebayor had yet another sub-par performance. He has blossomed into another Drogba, sans the skill and technique. With Van Persie Adebayor can be the rich man’s Emile Heskey and open up space. Without him, he hardly looks up to holding the front of the line. Arsenal have been getting substantial goal production in midfield, but will need to get consistent scoring up front to maintain their edge. If RVP doesn’t come back healthy and Eduardo fails to blossom, they could struggle.
If Premiership teams embodied an illness, Newcastle would be bipolar disorder (Wigan would be Leprosy). The black and white color scheme is fitting as one never can tell which team will show up. The terrible one did Saturday as they were destroyed 4-1 by Portsmouth at home. It was a surprsingly adept away showing by Arry’s boys, though their cause was aided by Newcastle’s ineptitude at the back. Pamarot’s strike was ridiculous and it was followed by a quite nice one from Benjani as well. They look like a side that could compete for Europe, were it not for the African Nations Cup.
It was also another disappointing outing for “undefeated” Liverpool, as they drew Blackburn 0-0 in a dismal affair. Rafa the Gaffer once again went with Kuyt and Voronin up front, great for promoting Aryan supremacy but not for winning a football match. Both lack pace, inventiveness, technique and form. Of the twenty Premier League teams, how many would be able to field a better duo up front (even with their 1st choice striker out)?
Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham
Kuyt and Voronin may have the right vitamins and minerals, but it has failed to manifest itself on the pitch. They need to shake things up a bit. The first thing should be to insert Crouch into the lineup. Yes, he looks like a stork. But he also does cliche striker things like score goals, create space, and cause opposing defenses fits. He should also place Babel in the starting XI to inject some youth and excitement into the Starting XI. He needs to show the cojones to take out his tried and trusted players, because the tried and trusted third or fourth place finish in the League will leave him out of a job.
Tags: Arsenal, Blackburn, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Peter Crouch, Portsmouth, Rafa Benitez, Wayne Rooney
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5 November 2007 at 7:12 am
I watched the last 20 minutes of the Arsenal-United game on Saturday and, I have to be honest, only the last 5-10 minutes held any interest for me. Those two will be the ones slugging it out for the title, though.
On the subject of Liverpool, yes, Kuyt and Voronin are rubbish, but I don’t buy into this idea of Crouch being the answer to our forward problems. I certainly don’t agree with your first point (one of the major criticisms that has dogged Crouch throughout his career is that he doesn’t score often enough) and the main reason he scares defences is that he is all flailing limbs in the air (those types of collisions hurt.) In any case, he is no pacier than Kuyt or Voronin, and he brings out the long-ball approach in us (which is just as predictable and easy to defend against as Kuyt and Voronin toiling 30 yards from goal.) All 3 of those “forwards” should be disposed of (along with Hyypia and Sissoko) as soon as clubs stupid enough to take them on can be found. Mind you, you’re right about Babel; he should be played, but as a forward partner for Torres, rather than as a winger (where he has been played so far this season, and a position which he is ill-suited to.)
5 November 2007 at 11:45 am
At least until January, they have the team they have. Not the team that they want. Benitez is certainly culpable for buying poorly.
I agree that Crouch is not the answer, but, I think that, given the situation, he is the best alternative. He is the most technically gifted of the three and the most creative. He at least deserves a run out in the squad.
5 November 2007 at 12:31 pm
Fair point. You’re absolutely right that Benitez has bought poorly; my worry is that Hicks and Gillett won’t make any significant funds available in January (as quite a bit of money is bound to be tied up in the new stadium) so either the squad will remain unchanged, or Rafa will spend yet more money on substandard players.
5 November 2007 at 1:47 pm
It will certainly be interesting. Judging from Hicks’ record in baseball, you could end up with Ronaldinho. But, since he knows nothing about football, he will probably let the football people handle it.