Tag Archives: Barclays Premier League

Image

Arsene Wenger (Should he stay or should he go..part two)

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

arsene wengerTEMPLATE ANALYSIS

Arsenal are fifth in the Premiership, four points behind third placed Spurs and two behind Chelsea. Neither of these two sides are better teams than Arsene Wenger’s men – but can that be said of the Manchester sides that sit in first and second place? And there is the root of the problem, for the manager who once set the standard finds himself playing catch up by a long way.

In Europe, they were taken apart by a clinical Bayern Munich side that made it look ridiculous easy despite being away from home.

Theo Walcott who recently secured another highly lucrative contract is still a yard short when he comes up against world-class opposition.

Nothing new in seeing Premiership sides fail in the Champion’s League – all  English sides have struggled in Europe, even Chelsea’s victory last season was more down to luck than their superior football skills.

But if the board at Arsenal are serious about a replacement – then there needs to be credible alternative.

Celtic’s Neil Lennon wouldn’t be a bad choice – his Celtic team failed against AC Milan because of a lack of word class firepower up front – something a rich club like the one based at the Emirates would be happy to oblige him with.

Of course, even now with Arsenal twenty-one points behind Manchester United in the Premier League and a humiliating FA Cup defeat to Championship side Blackburn Rovers behind them, no one is seriously talking about letting go of the great man.

And that’s that.

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Breaking News 📺 🎙🗞, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK

≈ Leave a comment

Image

City are back, but United are still six points clear

17 Monday Dec 2012

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

TEMPLATE COMMENTARY

Saturday, December 15, 2012 marked a turning point in Manchester City’s fortunes. You would have never guessed it, ten minutes into their game with Newcastle though. For until then, Roberto Mancini’s men – reeling from a humiliating exit from the European Champion’s League and now six points behind their rivals following that deflected goal from Robin Van Persie last Saturday – were being run around St James Park.  That is until a Aguero goal turned the game on its head. Mancini learned from his mistake in the Manchester Derby, namely not teaming Carlos Tevez with Sergio Aguero, who along with David Silva, Yaha Toure et al gelled into a world-class team – the team that should have been playing the Corinthians on Sunday for the title of World Club Champions.

At half time it was only 2-0 to the Champions – it should have been far more and although Demba Ba stole a goal early in the second half, the result was never really in doubt. City still look frail when a team gets at them, however that is more than compensated by their attacking prowess.

United’s response was a 3-1 defeat of Martin O Neil’s struggling Sunderland side, although the margin of the win flattered Alex Ferguson’s men who continue to play their old trick of being top without actually having the performances behind them to merit their position.

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Breaking News 📺 🎙🗞, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK

≈ Leave a comment

Image

Manchester City move to second, two points behind United

12 Monday Nov 2012

Tags

, , , ,

TEMPLATE REPORT

So, it is a rerun of last year’s thriller, when City beat their bitter rivals on goal difference, This time though Alex Ferguson’s men are two points clear and have a greater goal difference.

Roberto Mancini is a man under pressure, his side has not played well in the Premier league, or the Champions League either and yet they still have a chance of winning both – in the Premiership they remain undefeated, whilst in Europe, they’ll need the rub of the green to get into the next round.

United haven’t looked great either – however, they have managed to carve out the results as they have done so season after season. This time, a very young Aston Villa side found out what its like to lose to United, despite taking a two goal lead and out playing them for three-quarters of the game.

Outside the rivalry between United and City, the most interesting developments are occurring at Anfield where the newly installed Brendan Rodgers is attempting to mould Liverpool into a football force to be reckoned.

It’s not going to be easy, but Luiz Suarez has stepped up to meet the challenge, something his colleagues failed to do so.

This time, he grabbed a late goal to deny third-placed Chelsea a much deserved win.

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Breaking News 📺 🎙🗞, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️

≈ Leave a comment

Image

Manchester United are top of the Premier League

03 Saturday Nov 2012

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

TEMPLATE REPORT

With ten games gone, the Premier League looks very much like it did last year, with the two Manchester clubs battling it out for the top position .

And if City beat West Ham by four goals then it will be a replay of the thrilling season that made Roberto Mancini’s men champions.

After breaking Chelsea’s run last week, Manchester United completely outclassed Arsenal to win 2-1 to seize the top position, and after Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw at Swansea were still there are as City met the newly promoted West Ham United.

City have not played well this season, and in Europe despite a very good but unlucky performance against Real Madrid, look set for an early exit out of the Champions League.

Yet, they are still hanging in there – very much like their great rivals have done season after season.

As for the battle for the fourth place – once again, Everton are making the running on equal points with Spurs and just two points ahead of Arsenal, Fulham and West Ham, who are currently holding Manchester City 0-0 at half time.

And judging by City’s dismal performance so far, United will remain top of the Premier League.

Final Result – West Ham 0 Manchester City 0. That result means United are top, Chelsea second and City third.

Posted by | Filed under Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK

≈ Leave a comment

⚽️ Barclays Premier League 🥅 🏟

02 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in Analysis 🙌, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

There may be only one English team left in the European Championships, however that has not stopped the Premier League from being a compelling spectacle last weekend.

If, as is expected, Manchester United defeat Blackburn Rovers tonight then the league title is almost certainly theirs, after City were held to a draw by Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland.

Roberto Mancini for so long the quietly assured manager of big spending City is discovering what numerous managers of the past, most famous of whom was Kevin Keegan, will testify to, that when it gets tough, at the crunch, Alex Ferguson will be there to face you off.

Are the mind games getting to Mancini – you can’t say for certain yet, though things may be more clear after tonight.

The feature of the league this year has been how any team wherever their position in the League has a chance to defeat the top placed sides, as Arsenal discovered with their defeat to QPR who despite this result still remain third from bottom.

But perhaps the most striking image of the weekend came during Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to Alan Pardew’s Newcastle, when the vastly over-rated and overpaid – £35 million – Andy Carroll stormed off after being substituted by Kenny Dalglish.

Newcastle who are in sixth position are eleven points clear of eight-placed Liverpool.

And yet, Liverpool have spent £115 million on players, whilst at the same time Newcastle £26 million.