Fatigue?
I knew that was coming.
If it wasn’t predictable that Arsenal would draw with Fulham, it was certain that Wenger would say his team was suffering from fatigue.
He’s done that for 15 years : Given his players an excuse. He gives them an excuse to be tired the next time they play Wednesday-Saturday.
Dortmund and Fulham were two home games! Arsenal didn’t fly back from Istanbul or Kiev at 3.30 a.m.!!
Still, Walcott had a better game and his cross that gave Vermaelen the chance to head past Mark Schwarzer to earn a point.
It was a squeeze weekend as the top clubs bunched closer together.
Draws for City, United and Arsenal, wins for Spurs and Chelsea. Newcastle drew 1-1 at Old Trafford while didn’t entirely surprise us.
Manchester United have stuttered because the back five is an audition and the midfield is as empty and bare as a desert. You could hold a world land speed attempt there during the match. Or launch a Shuttle from the centre circle.
Still, I’m not complaining about that.
With Arsenal and United only able to draw against Fulham and Newcastle, and Chelsea beating Wolves 3-0, the old Big Four are squashing up with the second half of the season fast approaching.
Nobody’s running away with it.
Man City are not champions yet.
When I got home from Stamford Bridge, I was surprised to find that the half-time score in the Arsenal-Fulham game was 0-0.
I watched the second half as I ate dinner.
In truth, right now I only know what I\’ve been told by my Gooner friend Kelvin, who was at the game : That Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu were good in midfield, that Gervinho came on and changed the game, that Wenger should have made his substitutions 10 minutes sooner, that Ramsey was giving too many balls away and may need a rest.
Kelvin said, “Arshavin has to leave the club, he wasn’t interested.”
In the highlights I saw : Schwarzer made a good save from Ramsey, Szczesny made a blinding save form Dembele, Van Persie\’s shot was blocked on the line by Baird. And then Mertesacker went AWOL as Danny Murphy hit a diagonal ball into the box and Rise managed to chest the ball down fairly. Walcott had tracked Rise\’s run but Djourou hadn\’t seen Rise coming, and when Vermaelen tried to cover, he poked home an own-goal.
These things happen. But, typically, the Belgian saved the game by scoring 17 minutes later.
We had a lot of fun at Chelsea but it was sad to see a giant gladiator play as badly as that.
Against Wolves, who were without Kevin Doyle and a few others, Didier Drogba had the most feeble game I’ve ever seen him play.
Villas-Boas brought legs into midfield for this vital game.
If you play a high line, you have to defend from the front with energy and tenacity. You really need legs. You need footballers who can run and keep running : Ramires had a blinder, Meireles was very energetic and tidy, and youngster Romeu had a solid two-footed game with few mistakes.
Chelsea scored in 7 and 29 and 45 to lead 3-0 at half-time.
Terry headed in Mata\’s corner, Sturridge raced into the six yard box to convert a low cross by Mata, who then volleyed beautifully past Wales keeper Hennessey from a cross by Ashley Cole.
Hennessy made saves from Ramires, Sturridge, Ramires, and a double save from Sturridge and Mata.
This was the first time I\’ve seen Sturridge in the flesh. He has a good turn of pace and can hit the ball hard with his left foot. If he keeps his place in the Chelsea team for the rest of the season, he\’ll be good enough for Capello\’s 23. He did OK but I\’m still not convinced. He needs to keep improving.
Right at the end, John Terry was booked for time-wasting at a throw. It looked like calculated, Mourinho-type yellow card. Terry will miss their Carling Cup tie.
Gary Neville talks sense at Sky, always makes good points.
He is practical, informative and marvellous. I don\’t miss Andy Gray or Richard Keys at all.
Indeed, it’s wonderful not to have Gray\’s opinions rammed down my throat for 94 minutes every Sunday. It’s sheer bliss.
Why didn’t Sir Alex keep Gary on the coaching staff?
Mark my words, Gary Neville could manage Manchester City better than Roberto Mancini, who will rotate himself out of a job.
Play your best team! When they get injured, or tired, play somebody else.
Mancini picked two big strikers and denuded midfield in Naples and got beaten 2-1. that after after bungling his selection and subs in Munich.
On Sunday he rotated half the team and almost lost at Anfield. Nasri did nothing because he needs a run of games in a settled side. Mancini then took Nasri off and brought on Balotelli, who got sent off after only 19 minutes on the pitch.
Even the goals were unsatisfactory.
When City skipper Kompany tried a glancing header, the ball went into the net off his shoulder. When Charlie Adam fired a shot yards wide, centreback Lescott tried to clear and sent the ball past Joe Hart.
Lucas and Charlie Adam were very good, right through the game.
Which is more than I can say for Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. If those two don’t play, they don’t improve. Henderson touched the ball five times and miskicked it three times. Maybe he will be a player. I’ve heard that he will be.
Citeh were lucky that Joe Hart was able to save them from defeat at Anfield after crazy baldhead was stupidly sent off for obstructing Skrtel and throwing an arm across his face.
Spurs won 3-1 at West Brom.
Jermain Defoe always scores goals when England have a tournament coming up.
Spurs are third, two points above Ndewcastle, with a game in hand. Arsenal are seventh on the same points as Liverpool : 23.
City are top with 35.