In the first of many musings from the Premier League world, our new writer, Daniel Thomas brings you his round-up from an exciting, action-packed EPL weekend…
In a league often criticised by many, including this author [and editor!], for being a boring and predictable snoozefest, this weekend of bizarre results positively punched the ney sayers square on the end of their conks as a raft of the unpredictable and unexpected drifted up on the Premier League beach.
In Saturday’s early kick off, the Wolves fans’ senselessly hostile and fraught relationship with Mick McCarthy tumbled to a new low as they booed his decision to have a Chinese takeaway instead of an Indian one following the 2-2 draw with Swansea City. As it turns out, the scathingly cynical Yorkshire man made two positive substitutions that had a direct effect on his team coming back from 2-0. Deliberately obtuse in his post match interview, McCarthy was not so subtle on the touchline when jeered by fans, advising them that they might want to head in an alternative direction.
Needs more love: MM
Swansea boss Brendon Rodgers was left “disappointed” with his side’s spectacular implosion, surrendering a 2 goal lead with just 6 minutes left. One suspects that the Swansea defence will be left “disappointed” by them being locked in a room and being forced to practice actual defending until they get it right.
In the mountains of 3pm kick offs on Saturday (3), in the game between Aston Villa and WBA , Mr Dowd failed to send off Alan Hutton for one of the poorest challenges you’ll see all season, sent off Chris Herd for…. for… well, maybe we’ll find out at some point, and awarded the first ever penalty where a player aimed for a steward stood near the corner flag. West Brom won 2-1, coming from a goal down in the process and continuing their recent ‘wesurgent wun of wesults’. “Big” (for some reason, considering he’s average sized and very definitely an average football manager) Eck is left to pick the bones out of a massive role reversal after a strong start.
Herd: Still bemused
At the Breezeblock Stadium, Bolton hit a new low as their home record slipped to, if you are American, 0 and 4 – the latest being a defeat to Sunderland, coincidentally without an away win all season. Owen Coyle has a massive problem on his hands, and a game such as Saturday’s should have been a perfect chance to remedy their home town blues. Things are getting truly desperate if Nicklas Bendtner is getting himself on the scoresheet. Sunderland were 2-0 winners.
Newcastle‘s excellent start to the season continued as a Cabaye screamer overcame stubborn but still dreadful Wigan, whose awful start to the season continued in earnest. Dave Whelan was left to bemoan the big clubs getting all the decisions, foreign owners and nobody caring what he thinks, whilst Mike Ashley was unavailable for comment as he was testing every food vendor in the confines of the stadium. An impressive start from wor Toon.
In the late kick off, Liverpool continued from their previous game as they continued to squander chance after chance against pretty hopeless Norwich City. The newly promoted club fought gamely but had the woodwork, John Ruddy, and Peter Walton to thank for them for escaping with a point. Luis Suarez managed to avoid a racial slur at the end of the match, despite taking the mick out of the entire Norwich back four all game, and no Norwich defender chose to make their slur in the French press.
A frustrating day for Suarez & LFC
Moving to Sunday, Arsenal eventually saw off Stoke after their one and only trick of “give it to Robin van Persie” paid off. Indeed, like Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle, where the philosphy of “give it to Tino” was rampant, the tactic worked as the substitute scored twice to save Arsenal from the clutches of a draw for the second time in two weeks. Stoke meanwhile cannot adjust to life on a Sunday in away games following European competition. On this occasion however no shoes were kicked at any linesmen.
Fulham went from 1-1 against Everton, with an open goal to seal it, to 3-1 down in the blink of an eye as the beleaguered Blues scored two late goals to defeat Martin Jol’s men. With a number of big games coming up, the pressure will have eased considerably on David Moyes, although Fulham’s inconsistent form continues.
“Why always me?” asked Mario Balotelli as he opened the scoring in Man City‘s 6-1 thrashing of Man Utd. A week after setting fire to his own bathroom after letting fireworks off from its window, Super Mario turned up trumps at Old Trafford with some sparklers of his own, scoring City’s first two goals. In answer to his question, it’s probably always him because Johnny Evans was on the pitch, although he had long since been sent packing when the Italian tapped his second in. A huge wake up call for the champions in that instance, and you wouldn’t want to be Aldershot on Tuesday.
Because you never learn, Super-Mario?
Spurs shrugged off some relatively game resistance from Blackburn as Steve Kean continues to defy his critics by clinging onto his job despite losing every week. Harry Redknapp was pleased by the result, before naming three Blackburn players he’d like to sign whilst hanging out of an imitation car window.
In the late game on Sunday between west-London rivals QPR and Chelsea, saw Mourinho lite, AVB, stop just short of accusing ambulance services of trying to murder one of his players as he blew a fuse at the performance of referee Chris Foy. In reality, it was a clear penalty, a strong case for a red card and a definite red card. Opposing manager Neil Warnock was last heard blaming Rafa Benitez and Stan Ternant for his failure to make the most of a two man advantage and his team getting totally outplayed by 9-men.
It's a disgrace! Drogba's challenge, that is
Until next time then…
This article was written by Daniel Thomas. You can follow Dan on Twitter here.
