Bizarre. Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller is sent off for slapping his team-mate Andy Griffin. You could not invent it, could you? Hardly fair play, mate for boshing one of your own! Stoke, now in the relegation zone, lose 2-1 at West Ham. I bet the coach journey home was worth witnessing.........
Bizarre. Hull City manager Phil Brown decides with his team 4 nil down at Manchester City to hold his half-time team talk on the pitch in front of the 4000 travelling Hull Fans. Hardly fair play, Phil mate, even if the team had played badly, for a host of reasons. These players have over-achieved for Brown until then. One very bad day at the office and he treats them like school kids and humiliates them in front of their own fans. Never been done before in the Premier League and should never be done again! The dressing room is the only place to sort it out. Brown's reasons, including trying to appease his supporters, were not good enough. It’s a bad gimmick, however he sees it. I hope it does not rebound on him and the club in the next few games. That coach journey home would have been interesting as well!
Liverpool, without their star striker Fernando Torres for the moment, continue to lead the Premier League. They extended their lead to three points with a crushing 5-1 win at Newcastle. It would have been more but for a great display of goalkeeping by Ireland's Shay Given. Liverpool's best player Steven Gerrard scored twice in another awesome display.
Chelsea let slip a 2-1 lead at Fulham by conceding a last minute goal and so passed on two points. I know Chelsea have injuries but there is something not quite right with manager Phil Scolari and this Chelsea season. Fair play though to Frank Lampard for another fine display and another two goals.
Liverpool may prove me wrong but I still fancy Manchester United to just retain the Premier League title - providing they can keep winning during their punishing January schedule. They have the best squad and the strongest set of attacking forwards.
Arsenal hiccupped their way back into fourth spot. They have injury problems as well but everyone is urging manager Arsene Wenger to get extra players in January. If they don't finish in the top four they will miss out on the European Champions League for the first time in 11 years. That will make the natives even more restless. Much may depend on who cash-rich Aston Villa add - much talk about striker Emile Heskey who is also wanted by Liverpool.
It’s all making life difficult for Portsmouth manager Tony Adams whose side are in danger of sinking fast - now just one win above the drop zone. Fair play mate, Harry Redknapp is a difficult act to follow, there are several injuries and the best players are being sold or appear to be preparing to be sold as Portsmouth hit money problems. But Tony knew the score when he took the job. Now he has to prove he can be a successful number one. The jury is out!
West Brom are hanging in there. They beat Spurs two nil at home but are still bottom! However, they have closed the gap to two points and have given themselves a chance. Spurs can thank goal difference for currently keeping them out of the drop zone but it is so tight down there that nothing can be taken. There will be a surprise or two come May!
Manchester City grabbed a late, late point at Blackburn. Boxing Day also produced a late 2-2 thriller between Aston Villa and Arsenal. Yes, as we turn into the New Year it’s going to continue to be a great season in the Premier League.
I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year. My next blog will have some of the funnies of 2008 and my predictions for what 2009 will bring....hey, and we haven't even mentioned England manager Fabio Capello......what a start he has had as England manager.
Stay with the Pieman as we reveal some exciting new plans.........
No comments:
Post a Comment