As a soccer fan it certainly doesn’t get much better than this currently. Midweek Premiership games, the World Cup draw takes place tomorrow and the climax to the MLS season on Saturday means if I am not careful my head could explode and at the very least my poor little fingers will be sore as I frantically try to keep updated with the world.
Tuesday saw just the single game when Crystal Palace hosted West Ham in the first home game for new Palace Manager, Tony Pulis. In my preview I had said that I thought it was going to be a tough test for West Ham with Palace starting to scrap for points and that was how it proved to be. Sure the Eagles had a bit of luck with a Downing strike being ruled out for a foul in the build up. The truth is that the decision could easily have gone the other way and was harsh on Big Sams team, who had played well, and looked dominant in the early stages of the game.
It was the ex Arsenal player who had spent a short period, without much impact, on loan to West Ham who scored the winner. Marouane Chamakh got the slightest touch on a Barry Bannan cross just before the half. In the end though Palace held on for a much needed and deserved win, with Selhurst Park rocking as loudly as I have ever heard.
Wednesday saw the other eighteen teams fulfill their games as Arsenal continued their run of good form with a solid 2-0 win at home to Hull City. The only surprise for me about this result is that 1) it wasn’t more and 2) Bendtner actually scored a goal. His goal two minutes from the start gave the Gunners a 1-0 half time lead and two minutes after the restart Mesut Ozil doubled that and Arsenal now look forward to a tougher test when Everton visit on Sunday.
Fulham failed to win despite going ahead against Tottenham in the first game, and home debut, of new Manager Rene Meulensteen. That result combined with the Palace victory means Fulham are now level on points with Crystal Palace but unlike Palace, show no sign of a fight. Next up for Fulham are Aston Villa who are pulling themselves up the table so things are not going to get any easier for Fulham. Unlike Palace who will look to strengthen in the New Year, Fulham do already have quality in the squad but for some reason it is not clicking as yet.
The injury to Artur Boruc on Saturday may prove to be a very big issue for Southampton if the Villa game is anything to go by. Paul Lamberts side had gone two previous games without a win and failing to score at home to Sunderland last time out. Now if the three goals last night are due to Aston Villa now finding their cutting edge then fine, but if it is due to an uncertain back line then you have to worry for Southampton over the coming weeks. Saturday could be a big test with the visit of free scoring Manchester City, the only good thing is they will be at home.
The game between Stoke City and Cardiff finished in a goalless draw which will help neither side as they try to claw their way from the wrong end of the table. With Norwich, West Ham and Fulham losing it would have been a fantastic three points for whichever side wanted it more. Next up for Mark Hughes Stoke is the visit of Chelsea while Cardiff travel to Palace. Certainly if three points were needed by one side more than the other yesterday it would have to be Stoke City who might have benefitted most.
Swansea did manage to get three points at home to Newcastle and although Newcastle were on a four game run of straight wins I was sure they wouldn’t make it five in Wales. Next up for the Toon army is a visit to Old Trafford which will not be made any easier after their own disaster of yesterday. In contrast, Swansea will follow up their 3-0 win against Newcastle with another home tie against Hull City, and with it, the chance to put more distance between them and the bottom three.
The Manchester City away record in the League has not been the best so far this season despite always dominating the opposition. Like the home sides goal the roads around the Hawthorns was highly congested and as a result the game started later than scheduled. The fifteen minute delay was worth it for City though with Aguero scoring the opener after nine minutes, and missing numerous chances beforehand. Fifteen minutes later Yaya Toure increased the lead with a fantastic finish for a well worked team goal. With fifteen minutes left in the first half Yaya Toure scored his second of the game from the spot after Kolarov was felled in the area. Aguero had already been replaced by Milner and so it was left to the Ivorian to convert, which he did. With the game starting fifteen minutes late some fans decided at this point to leave, and if they did they missed both their teams goals. The first came with five minutes left when a Kolarov attempted clearance went in off of Pantilimons back. Five minutes later the deficit was cut again when Anichebe held of Demichelis before finishing. There would be no more time for a complete comeback and Pellegrini will be pleased with the first 85 minutes from his side, but frustrated at the way they seem to lose focus at certain points in the game.
Chelsea did eventually get the win away to Sunderland and to be fair I did say they would struggle. American Jozy Altidore scored after a quarter of an hour but the Black Cats could only hold the lead for three minutes before Lampard equalized. Edin Hazard then put Chelsea ahead at half time. Five minutes after the restart though Sunderland were back on terms from a corner not properly dealt with by the Chelsea back line.
Once again though Hazard scored to put Chelsea up 3-2 with under half an hour to go. A one two with Frank Lampard was finished neatly by the little Belgian to surely settle the game. An own goal from Phil Bardsley gave Chelsea a 4-2 lead with the game winding down but still Sunderland had some fight left when Bardsley scored again, this time in the right net. Sunderland pressured but Chelsea held on for the win, a concern for Mourinho would be how his side deals with set pieces and the fact that they currently cannot seem to see out games comfortably. For Sunderland though, if they can pressure on Saturday as much as they did today then I think Tottenham will be in for a very difficult game.
It has been seven months and only fourteen games since Sir Alex Ferguson stood on the Old Trafford turf and told the listening fans to give the new man time. Applause rang out among the masses and yet this morning I see quite a few posts on social media saying Moyes out. I wish to address that in another article later today but for now I think the credit needs to go to Martinez and an Everton side who came to Old Trafford looking for a game and showing a belief they could get the points. Wayne Rooney has been carrying the United side so far with his performances and his yellow card during this game means he will be a big loss for Saturdays visit of Newcastle. United had more shots on target, more off target, more possession and more corners than the visitors and yet the net bulged not a single time. Last week Ryan Giggs celebrated his 40th birthday and played the full 90 minutes yesterday, that is great. On the other hand, how bad is it that United have to rely on a 40 year old to get the midfield to work? Pick any other top European club and they have a wealth of quality players a little over half his age.
Finally I go to Liverpool where the usually quite controversial Luis Suarez was in stunning form against Norwich. A first half hat trick put Liverpool on the way to a 5-1 win and every one of his eventual four goals were top quality. If you get a chance go ahead and watch them and you will see what I mean. A consolation goal for Norwich on minute 83 wasn’t the end of the scoring either as Suarez again broke through before crossing to Raheem Sterling who finished the scoring, 5-1. As bad as Liverpool were Saturday were as good as they were yesterday and for Rodgers that is the dilemma. Saturday they will host West Ham and have the chance to build on this win, Norwich however will not be looking forward to the trip to West Brom as their slide continues.
