I disliked Jose Mourinho as much as the next man (unless the next man was a Chelsea fan - and let's face it: Chelsea fans were on the increase as gloryhunters emerged from the woodwork), but what the hell did Roman Abramovich think he was doing when he sacked Mourinho?! Who does he honestly think will come in and do a better job? The appointment of Avram Grant is a bloody joke. The Premier League is a hell of a lot different from the Israeli league, and I suspect that because of Abramovich's actions Chelsea can wave bye-bye to their title and Champions League aspirations for another season.
Relatively speaking, Chelsea didn't have a great start, but they've never been invincible. Their 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa was a bit of a shock but they've always been prone to losing the odd away game. With Drogba and Lampard out of the team - two players that contributed around 50 goals last season (and set God knows how many more up) are sorely missed and I was very surprised that Mourinho wasn't given the funds or freedom in the summer to go out and buy the players he needed. Perhaps that was all part of the larger plan for Abramovich, who's got such a disinterested face during match days that it looks like he has to have his eyebrows manually lifted to keep his eyes open. Not only that, but for a billionaire it looks as if he goes to TK Maxx for his jackets and he can't afford a decent razor.
I hate the bloke; he comes across as a spoilt brat who throws his toys out of the pram when things don't go his way. He needs to understand that whatever amount of money you pay your manager, staff, players and coaches, at the end of the day they're all human and prone to error. Money doesn't guarantee success in football because players aren't robots. Abramovich seems to think he can do anything, so it was great to see him leave Old Trafford yesterday looking as gormless as ever following Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to Man Utd.
Derby beat Newcastle last week, Sheff Wed beat Hull at the weekend, and Grimsby beat Lincoln during the noon kick-off in League 2. That leaves QPR as the only Football League club without a win this season.
I'm a bit surprised at Lincoln, to be honest. Well, I say I'm surprised; the BBC should be more surprised than me as they tipped the Imps to be League 2 champions this year. I think that was a pretty blind prediction - they've bought full back Gary Croft and ageing striker Steve Torpey. Says it all, really. The lost 4-0 at home to Shrewsbury on the opening day of the season, then they won their next two games but have now lost four on the trot. I wonder how much longer manager John Scofield will last at Sincil Bank? Wouldn't it be ironic to see a team that had achieved five successive play-off finishes fall out of the league? Harsh, but having lost five of their first seven games and sitting in 20th place it could happen.
I'm not that surprised to see Watford and Charlton at the top of the Championship. Teams that get relegated from the Premiership have a much better chance of bouncing back nowadays than they did a few years ago (unless you have a dodgy manager in charge like Bryan Robson at Sheff Utd). West Brom were unlucky not to get promoted last season, and as much as I happen to think that they're a really boring, uninspiring team to watch, I dare say they'd be putting up more of a fight than Derby are currently doing. Well done to the three promoted teams from League 1 though - Scunthorpe, Blackpool and Bristol City are all in the top half after seven games.
Somewhat surprisingly, Walsall sit bottom of League 1. They were probably the best all-round team to get promoted from League 2 last season. Instead, Hartlepool, Swindon and Bristol Rovers are all hanging out with the big nobs in the top half of the table - teams that finished behind Walsall last season (and in Bristol Rovers' case, a whole 17 points behind).
Dirty Leeds have had a ridiculously good start to the season, winning seven straight league games and moving out of the relegation zone. Southend are hanging around in the play-offs whereas Luton - the third side to be relegated from the Championship last season - can't decide whether they want a promotion push or a relegation battle, settling for mid-table mediocrity in the meantime.
And as I dip rather inevitably into League 2 we can see both Morecambe and Dagenham holding their own for now. Morecambe certainly have potential to do quite well if their League Cup form is anything to go by (beating Preston and Wolves away isn't done through sheer luck) so I don't expect them to be dragged towards the bottom, but Dagenham are a difficult team to predict. They did extremely well to win the Conference at a canter last season, but often, when teams win leagues so easily, they don't do so well the following season. I've never worked out why that is. And I can't be bothered trying to work it out now.
Chesterfield, Brentford, Rotherham and Bradford all appear to be in the right half of the table as things stand, but whether any of them have the stamina to last the pace of a promotion race is another thing. I personally think that Bradford won't go up; they've pinned a lot of hope upon a manager who is basically untried and appears to be living off his work with Neil Warnock - who is a bit of a cock.
Monday, 24 September 2007
Monday, 17 September 2007
The gradual shaping of things
I'm not happy. Leeds have not only wiped out their fifteen-point deficit, but they have also climbed off the bottom of the table following an opening six-game winning streak. They're a cheating, dirty football club, with an idiot for a manager... but still, sometimes you have to take your hat off and congratualte a team that has achieved so much.
My hat is staying firmly on my head. I have no intention of removing it for Dirty Leeds. As far as I'm concerned, they should still be in debt, and therefore in a relegation mess as they wouldn't be able to afford any of the players they currently have - players that have helped them win thier first six games of the season.
But I will take my hat off to Leyton Orient. An undefeated start to the season has so far yielded 16 points, which is an impressive points tally considering I had them down as relegation fodder. I'm not so stubborn to wish them all the best and hope that they go up. If it means replacing a 'bigger' team in the Championship then I'm all for it.
Just four teams of the league's 92 remain without a win this season. Step forward Derby, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Grimsby!
The Premier League is starting to take shape, and if things remain as they are then we can expect a deluge of whinging from both José Mourinho and Alex Ferguson. We can also expect moaning from Rafa Banitez too, as he's gained this annoying trend of becoming a whining git the more his team wins.
Kalou's goal against Blackburn was onside, so I don't know what piece of action Mark Hughes was watching when his side escaped from Chelsea with a 0-0 draw. It was a major let-off, but I like Blackburn because they're a plucky team.
I'm surprised Sheffield Wednesday have started so poorly. Brian Laws made an immediate impression last season when he took over and lifted the Owls from the bottom six to the brink of the play-offs. Now Laws is looking up at his old team Scunthorpe, who are safetly tucked away in mid-table after a solid start to the season. Who'd have thought that at the start of the season? I'm not sure how long Laws will last at Hillsborough... I've already covered the fact that Leicester and Carlisle have much less patience with their managers, so the clock must be ticking for the man who thinks a Sonic the Hedgehog haircut is still trendy.
I'm not sure what's going on at Leicester, actually. Why did they sack Martin Allen so soon in order to replace him with Gary Megson? He was rubbish at Notts Forest, and that was a league below, so God knows what Milan Manderic thinks he'll achieve at the Walkers Stadium. I for one think that they will continue to struggle. I'd say 17th place is theirs for the taking.
Poor old Emile Heskey! Thinking he's now a settled part of the England team he's gone and done what all England players do at the most inconvenient of times: break a metatarsal. Even when I was younger (and I'm still relatively young now) this used to be called a broken toe. But the media think it's trendy to use the term metatarsel because it's what everyone else called it when Beckham broke it years ago. I don't even know whether I got the spelling right there. I don't even care.
Time to do some work now, so until next time (they're getting more and more infrequent!).
My hat is staying firmly on my head. I have no intention of removing it for Dirty Leeds. As far as I'm concerned, they should still be in debt, and therefore in a relegation mess as they wouldn't be able to afford any of the players they currently have - players that have helped them win thier first six games of the season.
But I will take my hat off to Leyton Orient. An undefeated start to the season has so far yielded 16 points, which is an impressive points tally considering I had them down as relegation fodder. I'm not so stubborn to wish them all the best and hope that they go up. If it means replacing a 'bigger' team in the Championship then I'm all for it.
Just four teams of the league's 92 remain without a win this season. Step forward Derby, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Grimsby!
The Premier League is starting to take shape, and if things remain as they are then we can expect a deluge of whinging from both José Mourinho and Alex Ferguson. We can also expect moaning from Rafa Banitez too, as he's gained this annoying trend of becoming a whining git the more his team wins.
Kalou's goal against Blackburn was onside, so I don't know what piece of action Mark Hughes was watching when his side escaped from Chelsea with a 0-0 draw. It was a major let-off, but I like Blackburn because they're a plucky team.
I'm surprised Sheffield Wednesday have started so poorly. Brian Laws made an immediate impression last season when he took over and lifted the Owls from the bottom six to the brink of the play-offs. Now Laws is looking up at his old team Scunthorpe, who are safetly tucked away in mid-table after a solid start to the season. Who'd have thought that at the start of the season? I'm not sure how long Laws will last at Hillsborough... I've already covered the fact that Leicester and Carlisle have much less patience with their managers, so the clock must be ticking for the man who thinks a Sonic the Hedgehog haircut is still trendy.
I'm not sure what's going on at Leicester, actually. Why did they sack Martin Allen so soon in order to replace him with Gary Megson? He was rubbish at Notts Forest, and that was a league below, so God knows what Milan Manderic thinks he'll achieve at the Walkers Stadium. I for one think that they will continue to struggle. I'd say 17th place is theirs for the taking.
Poor old Emile Heskey! Thinking he's now a settled part of the England team he's gone and done what all England players do at the most inconvenient of times: break a metatarsal. Even when I was younger (and I'm still relatively young now) this used to be called a broken toe. But the media think it's trendy to use the term metatarsel because it's what everyone else called it when Beckham broke it years ago. I don't even know whether I got the spelling right there. I don't even care.
Time to do some work now, so until next time (they're getting more and more infrequent!).
Friday, 7 September 2007
Wake-up call (for England, Accrington and Tonbridge Angels)
So it's just a dream. Good! I'm looking forward to waking up then, because for a moment there I thought Emile Heskey was going to start for England against Israel this weekend.
But of course, I'm joshing with you. I know I'm not dreaming because the pinch hurt like a bitch. I must confess to having a rather skewed opinion of Heskey playing for England again because I read the tabloid with the boobies in, and because I can't be bothered to think for myself (hence the tabloid) I'm told what to think, and if I can't find an obvious reason to argue against it, then I'll adopt it. However, I did notice that a certain Harry Redknapp is supporting Steve McLaren's decision to recall the old warhorse Heskey. And whatever Harry says, I agree. I think he's probably the most overlooked English manager never to be considered for the national job. I don't like his face, though; it looks like it's made out of rubber - and his eyelids simply make me squirm. Not as much as Steve Bruce's nose, but more than Arsene Wenger's mouth reminds me of Cancer Man out of The X-Files.
It's possible that tomorrow's attendances may be affected by the fact that football won't be the only sport on offer. The rugby world cup kicked off today and will continue tomorrow, and the England cricket team will be playing the final game of their seven-match one-day series against India at Lord's. It's the decider, so hold on to your hats!
Talking of attendances, Accrington Stanley were in the news this week for sharing a particular attribute with Charlie Dimmock: they both visibly lack support. It's a news story I'm extremely familiar with because I had Sky Sports News on permanently the other night, and I soon came to realise why people don't stay on the channel for more than ten minutes at a time. I heard Micah Richards say that same bloody spiel over and over again about the Steven Gerrard injection business which, to be honest, has bored the tits off me. It's a complete no-brainer for me: let the player make the decision. If he wants to play and have the injection, then let him. If it upsets Rafa Benitez then let Gerrard sort it out with him. But I've just remembered - players and managers don't speak directly to one another any more because agents make good mediums, apparently. I wouldn't agree with that, because I happen to think agents are greedy, selfish bastards, who are only out to look after themselves.
So then, as I was saying, Accrington Stanley. They've been getting poorer attendances since climbing back into the Football League, so it raises the obvious question: should the twins have won Big Brother 8? Sorry, I'm getting my wires crossed here. Stanley have lost all their home matches this season (two in the league, one in the Johnston'e Paint Trophy) and they're probably going to struggle to get more than 2,000 in to watch tomorrow's home game against Grimsby Town.
While just above them in League 1 Dirty Leeds United are attracting the sort of attendance that even the most well-supported Championship club would be proud of. They have the highest average attendance for a club outside the Premier League, which, on first glance, is impressive but, on second glance, shouldn't be all that surprising. Leeds is a massive city.
I mentioned the Johnstone's Paint Trophy there, didn't I? Well I reckon Leeds should be in the draw for the second round, which takes place on Sky's Soccer AM tomorrow morning. I've never understood the system to this competition. Year after year it fails to get a sponsor that can give it a name that'll make it sound like something other than a cup for Sunday League sides, and year after year it keeps changing its format. 16 clubs were given a bye into the second round, and not only that but they've now split the northern and southern sections into sub-sections. If there was a plan behind this idea then I'd like to see it, because it appears to have just generated an absolute farce, as the last time I checked Oldham wasn't in the north east. How embarrassing, then, that Dirty Leeds have to play in such a competition. They'll also have to play in the FA Cup first round, and I'm praying they get drawn away againts Liskeard Athletic or someone like that.
In the light of this latest post having become a bit boring I think it's only fitting to end it with a story from the Non League Today newspaper, which, despite the title, is a weekly publication. It tells of the greatest comeback in the history of football when, at 2-0 down with 14 seconds of normal time remaining, Hendon netted three times to eventually win 3-2. The unlucky side were Tonbridge Angels who, after a quick Google search, appear to be rather fond of conceding record-like achievements as Margate striker Charlie Side also scored three quick goals against them - a hat-trick inside eight minutes, it appears. Go Tonbridge!
But of course, I'm joshing with you. I know I'm not dreaming because the pinch hurt like a bitch. I must confess to having a rather skewed opinion of Heskey playing for England again because I read the tabloid with the boobies in, and because I can't be bothered to think for myself (hence the tabloid) I'm told what to think, and if I can't find an obvious reason to argue against it, then I'll adopt it. However, I did notice that a certain Harry Redknapp is supporting Steve McLaren's decision to recall the old warhorse Heskey. And whatever Harry says, I agree. I think he's probably the most overlooked English manager never to be considered for the national job. I don't like his face, though; it looks like it's made out of rubber - and his eyelids simply make me squirm. Not as much as Steve Bruce's nose, but more than Arsene Wenger's mouth reminds me of Cancer Man out of The X-Files.
It's possible that tomorrow's attendances may be affected by the fact that football won't be the only sport on offer. The rugby world cup kicked off today and will continue tomorrow, and the England cricket team will be playing the final game of their seven-match one-day series against India at Lord's. It's the decider, so hold on to your hats!
Talking of attendances, Accrington Stanley were in the news this week for sharing a particular attribute with Charlie Dimmock: they both visibly lack support. It's a news story I'm extremely familiar with because I had Sky Sports News on permanently the other night, and I soon came to realise why people don't stay on the channel for more than ten minutes at a time. I heard Micah Richards say that same bloody spiel over and over again about the Steven Gerrard injection business which, to be honest, has bored the tits off me. It's a complete no-brainer for me: let the player make the decision. If he wants to play and have the injection, then let him. If it upsets Rafa Benitez then let Gerrard sort it out with him. But I've just remembered - players and managers don't speak directly to one another any more because agents make good mediums, apparently. I wouldn't agree with that, because I happen to think agents are greedy, selfish bastards, who are only out to look after themselves.
So then, as I was saying, Accrington Stanley. They've been getting poorer attendances since climbing back into the Football League, so it raises the obvious question: should the twins have won Big Brother 8? Sorry, I'm getting my wires crossed here. Stanley have lost all their home matches this season (two in the league, one in the Johnston'e Paint Trophy) and they're probably going to struggle to get more than 2,000 in to watch tomorrow's home game against Grimsby Town.
While just above them in League 1 Dirty Leeds United are attracting the sort of attendance that even the most well-supported Championship club would be proud of. They have the highest average attendance for a club outside the Premier League, which, on first glance, is impressive but, on second glance, shouldn't be all that surprising. Leeds is a massive city.
I mentioned the Johnstone's Paint Trophy there, didn't I? Well I reckon Leeds should be in the draw for the second round, which takes place on Sky's Soccer AM tomorrow morning. I've never understood the system to this competition. Year after year it fails to get a sponsor that can give it a name that'll make it sound like something other than a cup for Sunday League sides, and year after year it keeps changing its format. 16 clubs were given a bye into the second round, and not only that but they've now split the northern and southern sections into sub-sections. If there was a plan behind this idea then I'd like to see it, because it appears to have just generated an absolute farce, as the last time I checked Oldham wasn't in the north east. How embarrassing, then, that Dirty Leeds have to play in such a competition. They'll also have to play in the FA Cup first round, and I'm praying they get drawn away againts Liskeard Athletic or someone like that.
In the light of this latest post having become a bit boring I think it's only fitting to end it with a story from the Non League Today newspaper, which, despite the title, is a weekly publication. It tells of the greatest comeback in the history of football when, at 2-0 down with 14 seconds of normal time remaining, Hendon netted three times to eventually win 3-2. The unlucky side were Tonbridge Angels who, after a quick Google search, appear to be rather fond of conceding record-like achievements as Margate striker Charlie Side also scored three quick goals against them - a hat-trick inside eight minutes, it appears. Go Tonbridge!
Monday, 3 September 2007
Crazy managerial world
Apologies for the absence, but your ever-opinionated Spy was living in a vale of urine-stained air, several miles outside of Leeds for three nights, watching live music, all for the sake of 'experience'. And do you know what? I'd do it again - although going three straight days without doing a sit-down job at the disgusting toilets will be difficult to emulate once again.
And in the absence of me being off-line the whole footballing world seems to have gone into meltdown. England manager Steve McLaren is becoming increasingly desperate and delusional - to the point where he thinks recalling Emile Heskey to the international squad is a good idea.
Carlisle bosses will be feeling extremely smug with themselves after seeing their club string a succession of impressive results together since they inexplicably sacked their manager after just one week of the new season. So good is this system that Leicester have followed suit by sacking London laugher-boy Martin Allen. He did well with Barnet, Brentford and then MK Dons, and on the strenght of that he was given a contract at the Foxes before being told that, actually, despite his decent history, he's not the right man for the job. The only thing I have against Allen is that he thought dropping a division to manage a franchise club was a step-up in the managerial merry-go-round.
Manchester United have finally found their feet by winning a couple of games, and they've achieved this by injuring Wayne Rooney and suspending Christiano Ronaldo. Good work, Sir Alex!
Look at Scunthorpe go! Bryan Robson's amazing managerial skills, coupled with his superb summer signings, weren't quite enough to beat a small club from Lincolnshire, despite the massive gulf in wages. Scunny are proving to be a plucky little club with a physio as their manager. Sometimes it's not who you know, but what you know. He knows how to look at men's bodies on a treatment table, and clearly that alone makes him a better manager than an ex-England captain.
And in the absence of me being off-line the whole footballing world seems to have gone into meltdown. England manager Steve McLaren is becoming increasingly desperate and delusional - to the point where he thinks recalling Emile Heskey to the international squad is a good idea.
Carlisle bosses will be feeling extremely smug with themselves after seeing their club string a succession of impressive results together since they inexplicably sacked their manager after just one week of the new season. So good is this system that Leicester have followed suit by sacking London laugher-boy Martin Allen. He did well with Barnet, Brentford and then MK Dons, and on the strenght of that he was given a contract at the Foxes before being told that, actually, despite his decent history, he's not the right man for the job. The only thing I have against Allen is that he thought dropping a division to manage a franchise club was a step-up in the managerial merry-go-round.
Manchester United have finally found their feet by winning a couple of games, and they've achieved this by injuring Wayne Rooney and suspending Christiano Ronaldo. Good work, Sir Alex!
Look at Scunthorpe go! Bryan Robson's amazing managerial skills, coupled with his superb summer signings, weren't quite enough to beat a small club from Lincolnshire, despite the massive gulf in wages. Scunny are proving to be a plucky little club with a physio as their manager. Sometimes it's not who you know, but what you know. He knows how to look at men's bodies on a treatment table, and clearly that alone makes him a better manager than an ex-England captain.
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Goalkeeper gaffs and a festival
Just as brown is the new black, the goalkeeper position is the new left midfield as far as England is concerned - except England never really sorted out their left midfield problem. Some decidedly square-looking pegs were forced into suspiciously round-looking holes by a number of England coaches in the past, such as the times Nick Barmby and Frank Lampard were stuck wide out on the left and told to run like Ryan Giggs. Of course, Ryan Giggs is Welsh - well, about as Welsh as Inzamam Ul-Haq is - and now, just as we're forgetting about that part of our team because Joe Cole seems to be doing alright, step forward Paul Robinson. No, not the actor from Neighbours or that left back who plays for West Brom... Paul Robinson, Spurs' Number 1 and somewhat controversially (and sadly) England's Number 1. It was his gaff that led to Germany's equaliser on Wednesday night in a friendly that everyone termed 'not a friendly'. Personally, I didn't care about the performance or the result because a) I wasn't watching it, and b) it didn't matter. Give me a couple of wins against Israel and Russia and then everyone will forget about the Germany defeat.
Anyway, that's about as much as I'm going to say on the small matter of football for now. Your Spy has to pack his things for Leeds festival this weekend and will, as a result, be totally detached from all football news. So until next week, Ta'ra!
Anyway, that's about as much as I'm going to say on the small matter of football for now. Your Spy has to pack his things for Leeds festival this weekend and will, as a result, be totally detached from all football news. So until next week, Ta'ra!
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
It's a marathon, not a sprint
Every now and again I come across articles like this one on the football section of the BBC Sport website. The best bits are towards the bottom as I like to read about particular teams' chants, and how they can sometimes highlight the unimaginative creations of certain teams' fans as they unintentionally allow their inferior intelligence to shine through.
What an interesting weekend of football it's been... while Manchester City occupy top spot in the Premier League their rivals Manchester United languish in 16th place after three games. Rooney is injured, Ronaldo is unavailable after falling for the old fashioned wind-up tricks played by Pompey on Wednesday night, and what with Saha and Solskjaer injured it's a difficult time for the Red Devils. Everyone laugh!
Chelsea were given a helping hand from the bloke who paves their owner's driveway on Saturday, allegedly (see third from bottom). Yes, it was a ridiculous penalty decision; yes, Liverpool were unlucky; and yes, Liverpool were given a similarly dodgy decision just the week before, from which Gerrard scored the winner. Two points gained at Villa, two lost at home to Chelsea. It's swings and roundabouts, people.
It's been a season of goalkeeping gaffs so far. I'm not keeping an official count, you understand, but by my reckoning both Jens Lehmann and Tony Warner head the list of silly mistakes in the Premier League with two each. Even the usually reliable Brad Friedel decided to get in on the act in Blackburn's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, although his mistake was marginally less embarrassing than Lehmann, who let David Dunn's shot go straight through his hands.
Just when you think it's safe to come out and say that Middlesbrough are a 'nothing' team and will probably struggle against relegation, they go and win a tricky away tie. It shouldn't have been a win because David Healy's goal was disallowed because it crossed the line but failed to connect with the back of the net. As decisions go, I think that one was worse than Rob Styles' at Anfield. The goal-line dispute has come full circle since Bobby Zamora's effort was blocked on the line by teammate Carlos Tevez at Blackburn last season without the ball crossing the line, and on that occasion the goal was given. If Laurie Sanchez is anything like me, he'll feel like he's owed something, and he'll continue to feel like that - even beyond repayment.
I'm surprised with Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday - the only two teams in the Championship who have yet to win a point. Scunthorpe look like they're trying to emulate the good season Colchester had last year by hanging around the play-offs like George Michael around a public toilet. Charlton were rumbled at Stoke, who top the table, and Sheffield United's defeat at Watford supports my continued belief that the Blades are going nowhere with Bryan Robson in charge. I'm sure he's a nice bloke, even though you wouldn't guess it from looking at his constantly miserable face, but he just doesn't seem to have the mental toughness to be a football manager.
As we dip down into League 1 we see my relegation candidates Leyton Orient topping the table, closely followed by Huddersfield - the only other team in the league that can keep up with Orient's 100% start to the season. Well, that's what the league says, when in reality Leeds have also got a 100% record. But they're a bunch of bastards managed by the biggest bastard of them all, so it's too easy to discount them. Carlisle seem to be doing well without a manager, winning another game with a caretaker manager in charge. That means he'll get the job and their form will immediately plummet. Still, it's too early to tell these things so I'm not making any judgments. Apart from Leeds, that is.
After their midweek League Cup first round defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham put paid to the media theory that Peterborough will get promoted because they have the son of a really good manager in charge by beating the Posh by three goals to one on a rare Sunday game in League 2. The victory would have looked more convincing had it not been for the visitors pulling back a consolation goal two minutes from time. Peterborough have some money and an inexperienced manager, so it's only right that they're tipped for promotion. Take the name 'Ferguson' out of the equation however and suddenly they become also-rans. The day the media stops bumming Alex Ferguson is the day that crap commentator Clive Tyldesley starts calling him Alex rather than Alec. And don't call him Sir, it'll just inflate his ego beyond that of what we already have to put up with from José Mourinho. Elsewhere in the league we see Accrington and Barnet looking a bit crap, Rochdale (somewhat surprisingly) struggling along with Mansfield, Lincoln being extremely unpredictable by losing 4-0 at home and then winning 3-1 away, and MK Dons already under-achieving. They have a brand-spanking new stadium with soft bits on the plastic seats. Who wants comfort at a football match?
What an interesting weekend of football it's been... while Manchester City occupy top spot in the Premier League their rivals Manchester United languish in 16th place after three games. Rooney is injured, Ronaldo is unavailable after falling for the old fashioned wind-up tricks played by Pompey on Wednesday night, and what with Saha and Solskjaer injured it's a difficult time for the Red Devils. Everyone laugh!
Chelsea were given a helping hand from the bloke who paves their owner's driveway on Saturday, allegedly (see third from bottom). Yes, it was a ridiculous penalty decision; yes, Liverpool were unlucky; and yes, Liverpool were given a similarly dodgy decision just the week before, from which Gerrard scored the winner. Two points gained at Villa, two lost at home to Chelsea. It's swings and roundabouts, people.
It's been a season of goalkeeping gaffs so far. I'm not keeping an official count, you understand, but by my reckoning both Jens Lehmann and Tony Warner head the list of silly mistakes in the Premier League with two each. Even the usually reliable Brad Friedel decided to get in on the act in Blackburn's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, although his mistake was marginally less embarrassing than Lehmann, who let David Dunn's shot go straight through his hands.
Just when you think it's safe to come out and say that Middlesbrough are a 'nothing' team and will probably struggle against relegation, they go and win a tricky away tie. It shouldn't have been a win because David Healy's goal was disallowed because it crossed the line but failed to connect with the back of the net. As decisions go, I think that one was worse than Rob Styles' at Anfield. The goal-line dispute has come full circle since Bobby Zamora's effort was blocked on the line by teammate Carlos Tevez at Blackburn last season without the ball crossing the line, and on that occasion the goal was given. If Laurie Sanchez is anything like me, he'll feel like he's owed something, and he'll continue to feel like that - even beyond repayment.
I'm surprised with Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday - the only two teams in the Championship who have yet to win a point. Scunthorpe look like they're trying to emulate the good season Colchester had last year by hanging around the play-offs like George Michael around a public toilet. Charlton were rumbled at Stoke, who top the table, and Sheffield United's defeat at Watford supports my continued belief that the Blades are going nowhere with Bryan Robson in charge. I'm sure he's a nice bloke, even though you wouldn't guess it from looking at his constantly miserable face, but he just doesn't seem to have the mental toughness to be a football manager.
As we dip down into League 1 we see my relegation candidates Leyton Orient topping the table, closely followed by Huddersfield - the only other team in the league that can keep up with Orient's 100% start to the season. Well, that's what the league says, when in reality Leeds have also got a 100% record. But they're a bunch of bastards managed by the biggest bastard of them all, so it's too easy to discount them. Carlisle seem to be doing well without a manager, winning another game with a caretaker manager in charge. That means he'll get the job and their form will immediately plummet. Still, it's too early to tell these things so I'm not making any judgments. Apart from Leeds, that is.
After their midweek League Cup first round defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham put paid to the media theory that Peterborough will get promoted because they have the son of a really good manager in charge by beating the Posh by three goals to one on a rare Sunday game in League 2. The victory would have looked more convincing had it not been for the visitors pulling back a consolation goal two minutes from time. Peterborough have some money and an inexperienced manager, so it's only right that they're tipped for promotion. Take the name 'Ferguson' out of the equation however and suddenly they become also-rans. The day the media stops bumming Alex Ferguson is the day that crap commentator Clive Tyldesley starts calling him Alex rather than Alec. And don't call him Sir, it'll just inflate his ego beyond that of what we already have to put up with from José Mourinho. Elsewhere in the league we see Accrington and Barnet looking a bit crap, Rochdale (somewhat surprisingly) struggling along with Mansfield, Lincoln being extremely unpredictable by losing 4-0 at home and then winning 3-1 away, and MK Dons already under-achieving. They have a brand-spanking new stadium with soft bits on the plastic seats. Who wants comfort at a football match?
Friday, 17 August 2007
An apology (and first managerial casualty)
I do beg your pardon - I've just witnessed ITV's Carling Cup highlights programme, tucked away on ITV4. I guess it's more of a bullshit apology because what I saw was a load of shite anyway. I know there were a fair few games to cover but, even so, there's no excuse for showing just one goal from matches that had four or five in them. It's 11:45pm on ITV4; I hardly think their schedule demands more important things considering the only people who watch that channel at that time are channel-hoppers who look for any excuse not to go to bed. And if Robbie Earl gets any more rigid in his presenting skills then he'll turn into a bloody concrete pillar before long. Ex-players who try and make it in the media should know when to call it quits (I'm looking at you, John Barnes).
After finishing eighth in their first season in League 1 the Carlisle board have made the ingenius decision to sack their manager, whose name escapes me for now. I didn't realise there had already been a managerial casualty this season. The sacking is a mysterious one to say the least, considering Carlisle have had much harder times in very recent memory.
And Spurs have held a meeting with boss Martin Jol after their poor start to the new campaign. That meeting wouldn't have taken place, I don't think, if Michael Chopra didn't score with the last kick of the game on Saturday. Jol is a good manager, and Spurs need to remember where they were when he took over. Two solid seasons of finishing fifth, interspersed with a bit of European football is an improvement on what they had before Jol became manager.
Don't forget to tune in for ITV's The Championship (and other leagues that don't matter) on Sunday when they will be showing extended highlights of Watford versus Sheffield United: a Premiership reject game from last season. Yes, join Matt Smith and the gang to watch what was Match of the Day's last game last season.
After finishing eighth in their first season in League 1 the Carlisle board have made the ingenius decision to sack their manager, whose name escapes me for now. I didn't realise there had already been a managerial casualty this season. The sacking is a mysterious one to say the least, considering Carlisle have had much harder times in very recent memory.
And Spurs have held a meeting with boss Martin Jol after their poor start to the new campaign. That meeting wouldn't have taken place, I don't think, if Michael Chopra didn't score with the last kick of the game on Saturday. Jol is a good manager, and Spurs need to remember where they were when he took over. Two solid seasons of finishing fifth, interspersed with a bit of European football is an improvement on what they had before Jol became manager.
Don't forget to tune in for ITV's The Championship (and other leagues that don't matter) on Sunday when they will be showing extended highlights of Watford versus Sheffield United: a Premiership reject game from last season. Yes, join Matt Smith and the gang to watch what was Match of the Day's last game last season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)