Speechless

photo by TheGiantVermin	via PhotoRee

For one of the few times in my life, I find myself speechless. Or wordless. Writer's block, I think they call it. So instead of my usual column, you'll have to satisfy yourselves with the usual news roundup. Sorry, but it's difficult to be brilliant every day, especially when you've been grounded to the nub by life's other events. So here goes:

He's Baaaaack:  Uncle Roy makes his return to EPL football this weekend, back in the saddle at West Bromwich Albion. Given the derisory treatment Roy received at the hands of the scouse crowd at the last joint he worked, I wish Hodgson nothing but the best, and hope WBA will avoid the drop they were so clearly heading toward under Roberto DiMatteo.

Mancini Stirs the Pot:  Before yesterday afternoon, there was relatively little in the way of locker room billboard material for either side to get excited about leading up to the Manchester Derby. Enter the Scarved One, and his belief that United were "very lucky"  to do the double over City last season. I don't know about you, but I don't recall anything "lucky" about scoring four goals the first game at Old Trafford, and then scoring a late, late goal to claim a 1-nil win back at Wastelands. That is, unless you're willing to write off all of United's late victories over the Fergie years as being "lucky," in which case, I'll gladly take it. In any event, Roberto, thanks for adding fuel to the United fire.

Gutless

 This Roadkill Has More Guts than Manchester City  
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Wednesday's EPL results were a serious boon to Manchester United's title chances, as every major pretender to the throne dropped points.  Both teams in Blue -- Chelsea and Manchester City -- suffered yet another setback in their efforts to pin back United, and Sir Alex and the boys had to enjoy watching the spectacle, which was the equivalent of a slow-motion car wreck.  Perhaps best from United's point of view was the listless draw played out at the Emirates between City and Arsenal, in which Roberto Mancini and his boys seemed most inspired by the "adventurous" cantennacio play that typifies the Seria A. 

I have another word for it, though: Gutless. That's the word that best sums up City's approach to the English title race. With a chance to go in and lay down a marker, City instead displayed -- yet again -- a genuine fear of winning and a played with a negative, gutless approach, showing no real intention of even trying to score, and grinding out a nil-nil draw at the Emirates.



Steve McManaman on ESPN had it about right during the game, putting it in a more politic way: Roberto Mancini and the boys in Sky Blue lack ambition. Sure, they're competitive, but they ought to be. Their salaries exceed the team's revenue, which is considerable. But if they want to try and be Champions any time soon, please do so with just an ounce of ambition. Don't go in playing for the nil-nil draw. This is not the Serie A, Roberto.



Still Leaking

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The 148th meeting between Arsenal and Chelsea Monday afternoon was a match much like many others between the two clubs.  For large portions of the game I had the feeling I'd seen this movie before: lots of tiki-taka Arsenal possession, passing and probing, but no worthy Gooner end product, with Chelsea looking to spring Drogba on the counter-attack for a morale-crushing blow.  But ten minutes in the middle of the match told the tale of how things have changed of late between the two clubs, and provided a dramatically different ending than we've become accustomed to, as Arsenal cruised -- that's right, cruised -- to a 3-1 victory.

The papers are full this morning of Carlo Ancelloti's obituary as Chelsea coach, which may be true, but in my opinion at least, would represent a totally undeserved fate for the suave Italian.  The news is also chock-a-bloc with opinions as to how the ghost of Ray Wilkins is still haunting Chelsea's Christmas present, but I feel this is an oversimplification.  Clearly there are problems at Chelsea: age, lack of depth and even more damning -- lack of spirit -- among them, but the bigger question is how did it come to this for a side who won the league -- according to the London-based pundits -- back in October?

The newspapers are also full of Gooner pride, and bold predictions about how Arsenal have finally overcome the dreaded Blue menace, and are now confident enough to go on and win the title.  I don't think so.  This is a good but ultimately flawed and inexperienced Arsenal side, and although i think they'll finish comfortably in second or third place, i don't see them challenging for the title at season's end.

Chelsea's Still Singing the Blues

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Despite their tie with Spurs yesterday, something's still amiss with Chelsea.  Sure, they looked better in the second half, but 45 minutes does not a game make.  In the first half -- sans their malaria-stricken Ivorian super hero -- the Blues looked completely toothless, all bark and no bite.  Anelka was lazy and diffident on offense, and Chelsea rarely looked threatening with him leading the line.  Malouda and Kalou played slightly better, but the Frenchman's scoring touch has deserted him in recent days, as has that of Drogba's smaller Ivorian compatriot.  John Terry was several last ditch toe pokes away from having a diabolically bad game in central defense, and although Paolo Ferreira dealt with Bale, the Welsh wideman was actually one of Spurs' weakest players on the day for my money.

Chelsea were simply outclassed in the middle of the pitch, with Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon and Wilson Palacios bossing the game for good portions.  Essien was the best of Chelsea's middle men, although that's not saying much when the other two are Jon Obi Mikel and Ramires.  For the life of me, I fail to see any reason at all to have Mikel in the lineup -- McEachren would be an improvement at this point -- and Ramires appears to be adjusting to the EPL about as well as his Brazilian countryman Robinho did.