Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

photo by Carla216	via PhotoRee

 

 

Scott's Liverpool side start of the New Year with a resvolution:

 

My how things have changed.  It doesn’t seem that long ago that Jurgen Klopp was gangenpressing his way to a Bundisliga championship, Stoke City were hacking down Premier League opponents under the direction of Tony Pulis, who now coaches such thuggery at West Bromwich Albion, and West Ham United were happy just not to be in the relegation zone.  But now, the Kloppmeister is reining over a stuttering (and limping) Liverpool side struggling to escape mid-table irrelevance, Mark Hughes’ Stoke City were favorites to beat the Reds, and West Ham comprehensively dismantled those Top 4 pretenders.

 

Of course, much as some things change, others remain, irritatingly, the same: Liverpool’s incessant underperforming, Daniel Sturridge’s perpetual sabbatical, and the literary aesthetic requirement that all lists be in groups of three.  Oh, and there’s also that bit about Liverpool not having the requisite world-class players to mount a serious title challenge.

 

That said, a 1-0 victory away to Stoke in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final was at least a stutter-step in the positive direction.  The first half was characterized by absolute dominance by the Reds, with a touch of poor finishing and a dash of hamstring pull.  The second half yielded less dominance, more poor finishing and another dash (and a half, if you count the hobbling Kolo Toure) of hamstring pull. 

 

I never thought an FA Cup game against lowly Exeter City could bring on such nervy anticipation.  But lately we seem to play much better against Premier League title challengers than we do against League 2 opposition.  Because no matter whom you play, you can only win if you score and goals have eluded Liverpool even as we dictate proceedings and create chances.  Even the normally reliable Benteke has squandered brilliant opportunities in front of goal. 

 

Changes are needed at Anfield and, while we can see some of them being made already under the enthusiastic German’s direction, more can’t come soon enough.

 

This is farlieonfootie for January 8th.

Mortality and Hope: Liverpool 1 - Stoke City 0

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Scott has some thoughts on this weekend's performance and more:

It was ugly. It was frustrating. It was close. And it was hard. But, in the end, thanks to Glen Johnson's brave header, Liverpool finally prevailed in the league. Many are pointing only to how hard it was. And still others, like correspondent Ed, are focusing solely on how poorly the Reds are playing of late. Ed and his ilk may, indeed, be right to do so because, let's face it, Liverpool have been simply awful over the last several games, and not much better before then.

 

But what I saw in this game, after what I hope and pray was the bottom of Liverpool football during a first half that saw nary a shot on goal, was the faintest glimmer of hope. Sure, Johnson's staple-stitch inducing header (for which, no doubt, he will receive a Purple Star) finally garnered 3 points. But more important to me was the 4 or 5 occasions in the second half when Liverpool produced legitimately dangerous passing combinations in and around the penalty area that showed they have not completely forgotten how to play attacking football in the forward third. May it be a harbinger of similar style….

 

o I think Gerrard's time as a starter is rapidly coming to an end. Quite frankly, his mobility is starting to remind me of what I see playing on Monday nights with Ed and the others of our generation. There comes a point when leadership can no longer overcome an aging body. Giving Emre Can an extended run of games seems to make sense. Stevie, you will always be our favorite talisman but the time is drawing near for us all to accept your mortality.

 

o Kolo Toure is proving himself once again. If he just keeps it simple and avoids the occasional aneurism, he can help our defensive efforts.

 

What's it All About, Gylfi?!

Two days in a row; what's going on here?  Correspondent Ed is what's going on:

Spurs looked horrific this Sunday against Stoke, but sadly they are playing pretty much as I would expect them to play.  In short, the line up is pretty poor.  Uncle Harry had Kaboul playing pretty well at Spurs, but that was a long time and a long injury ago.  Vertonghen also seems to play as if he cares little.  At left back, Danny Rose has proven fast, quick, and otherwise mediocre, and the same can be said of the right back position.  Walker may have been reckless but he could also provide a lot of pressure from that side.  At midfield, Capoue is just about a step down from Huddlestone, and Mason is a poor man's Tom Cleverly (I know, that's too mean).  Townsend is a super fast one move pony, and on the other side is Nacer Chadli (great name!), whose proven to be pretty good, but not that good.  Finally at striker we have "I'm not in a contract year" Adebayor, the $28MM bust from La Liga named Soldado, and of course, the home town boy who is these days the best of the three, Harry Kane (plus he plays goalie).

Here's a ray of sunshine though:  Kane, Rose, Mason, and Townsend all came through the academy and all started against Stoke.  I get it and I like it, but right now they're not enough and the rest of the team is even less of enough.

Hoofin' it: Stoke City 2 - Manchester United 1

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Wayne Rooney as a deep lying playmaker, Michael Carrick at center back, the visiting team employing hoof and run tactics and playing down to the level of its relegation-threatened opponent: such are the shambolic depths to which Manchester United plummeted with its latest piece of history making, the Red Devils losing to Stoke City for the first time in 30 years. If a team is the reflection of its manager, Manchester United would be preternaturally aging and under intense pressure after its latest loss, another dispiriting and dreary affair at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent. To those United fans who gained succor from the signing of Juan Mata during the recent transfer window, Saturday's performance  -- yet another "unlucky" one according to David Moyes -- was a reality check, as a team which used to score goals for fun has been reduced to scrapping and losing against bottom of the table competitors.

This writer's mother once told him if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all, so we'll leave the recap here and move into a set of player ratings that no one in red will be particularly pleased to see:

De Gea: Hung out to dry by Michael Carrick on the first, and had absolutely no chance on Adam's laser. 6.5

Jones: Unafraid to sacrifice the body, but did it one too many times. Hope he's okay. 6.5

Smalling: Moved to center back early. 6.0

Evans: Failed to make even the 10 minute mark. N/A

Evra: Physical match, got more hang time than an NBA player. 6.5

Carrick: Broke up play well but scored what should be ruled as his second own goal of the season with a weak attempt at a block. Should never have been playing center half. 5.5

Cleverley: Unobtrusive? Yes. Ineffective?  It goes without saying. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, then David Moyes is officially insane for his persistence in keeping Tom Cleverley in the lineup. Moon ball from point blank range in stoppage time. 4.5

All Hail the Capital One Cup: Manchester United 2 - Stoke City 0

Manchester United rode an improved second half performance to a 2-0 victory over Stoke City Wednesday night at a cold and wet Britannia Stadium.  As it has on so many occasions, the introduction of Javier Hernandez changed the outcome of the contest, with the Mexican's movement and speed bringing a much-needed spark of electricity and pace to the United attack near the hour mark.  While the first half was an all too typical encounter with the disciplined hosts, it was during the latter half of football that the visitors finally gained the upper hand in a down-and-dirty struggle to advance to the Capital One Cup semi-finals.

If the first half was notable for anything other than the complete lack of opportunities for either side, it was the fierce weather which bore down on players and spectators alike, with heavy gusts, lashing rain and even hail bringing the proceedings to a temporary halt.  The conditions improved markedly after the interval, as did United's performance: Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young in particular seemed to enjoy a second shot on the notoriously tough Stoke-on-Trent proving ground.  Herewith, the individual player ratings on a cold and wet, but ultimately satisfying night for the Red Devils:

De Gea: A surprise starter, whose inclusion showed just how important this Cup means to his Manager. Little do do but try to stay warm on a miserable evening. 7.0

Rafael: Rarely ventured forward before the interval, but looked rejuvenated after the break. 6.5

Smalling: Stuck to Crouch like a hobo on a ham sandwich. Solid effort. 7.0

Evans: Kept things well under control on defense, but missed the only half-opportunity that fell United's way in the first half. Still, partnered well with Smalling to form a fortress in front of his 'keeper. 7.0

Evra: Another inconsistent effort on defense, but picked out a beauty on the attacking end for the visitors' second tally of the evening. 7.0

Valencia: The Ecuadorian found it difficult to get untracked before the break, but became much more influential as the game wore on. 7.0

Cleverley: Appointed as field general today, but turned the ball over too often for our liking. It still seems as if his most basic instinct is to slow down the game. 6.0

The Return of the Late, Late Show: Manchester United 3 - Stoke City 2 -- Game Summary and Player Ratings

Javier Hernandez netted a late winner on Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford to lift the home side to a dramatic comeback victory -- the type of win that used to be routine, but one which had so far eluded the team's new Manager, David Moyes.  Hernandez' unmarked header from Patrice Evra's driven cross capped a stirring three minutes of action that saw the Red Devils surge from a late 2-1 deficit to the win.  The comeback was instigated by United's main men, as Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney combined for a glancing header off a corner kick to level a contest that had begun to test the patience of even the team's most dedicated fans.

Once again it was Adnan Januzaj who provided the initial spark off the bench, upping the tempo on an attack that produced relatively few attempts and only a solitary goal in the first 77 minutes of action -- that coming from Van Persie late in the first half.  No sooner had the Dutchman pounced on a rebound from Rooney's header to level the scoreline at one, though, did United hand back the momentum to their guests: a Phil Jones mistake leading to a fine Marko Arnautovic free kick which restored the Potters' lead just prior to the interval.

Although the victory may have been over only a mid-table Stoke City side, Old Trafford erupted with an explosion of noise that rivaled any heard in some of the team's most stirring come-from-behind efforts -- a testament to how much the win meant to the players, the coaches, and the millions of fans worldwide.  Herewith, our thoughts on the individual player ratings in a victory that may have far reaching implications for the rest of the campaign:

De Gea: Fine save on Crouch's initial effort, and nothing he could do about the rebound. Came up big to deny Walters before the game was a half hour old, but was unable to keep out a delightful Arnautovic free kick which restored the Potters' lead. Kept his head when all around him were losing theirs -- a Man of the Match performance form the Spaniard.  Let's be clear: this game was lost without his heroics: 9.5

Smalling: Slow to react to the initial attack from Stoke, which allowed the visitors to score their first goal in 5 1/2 hours. Was burned repeatedly by the easiest of moves; playing the center back on the right for his height backfired in two ways: immediately and regularly. 4.0

Jones: As if being found guilty of first half ball watching wasn't enough, his foul right before the interval led directly to Stoke's second tally of the afternoon. 4.0

Evans: Distribution today was almost as poor as his defending. Appeared to have grown two left feet since last week. 4.0

Evra: Prior to Januzaj's introduction, the Frenchman was the only player on either wing capable of crossing the ball. Superbly driven ball for Chicharito's winner. 7.5

Nani: Ballooned his first two attempts well over the bar, and failed to improve after that. Yanked in the 58th minute to an embarrassing chorus of boos from an Old Trafford crowd that should have known better.  Still, another puzzler from the Portuguese wide man. 5.0

Oh No, Kolo!

Scott is back on the beat for Liverpool:

 

An exclamation riddled with assonance is the only way to begin after Liverpool's Ivorian tower was stretchered off, with much difficulty by the poor, fluorescently-clad aid workers, during the club's Capital One Cup tie against "lowly" Notts County on Tuesday.  With the cupboard approaching bare as quickly as the transfer deadline day, Brendan Rodgers must now negotiate the likes of the Evil Manchester United Empire on Sunday with his most seasoned defender likely unable to play.  His thin team now having to skip another meal, the skipper must also solve the riddle that is Liverpool's performance in second halves this year.

Stoke City was only one game.  But then Aston Villa turned on the burners last weekend and nearly leveled the score on a then-hapless Liverpool in the second half.  Only Gabby Agbonlahor's profligacy spared the visitors, despite a credible penalty claim in the 90th when Brad Guzan brought down Daniel Sturridge.  And now, after charging out to a well-deserved 2-0 halftime lead over Notts County, the Reds inexplicably let the League One team back into the game and needed extra-time heroics from Sturridge and Jordan Henderson to seal the deal.

 

Liverpool better solve this riddle before hosting David Moyes and Co. this Sunday or I'll be switching to the consonant form of alliteration and lingering on the 6th letter of the alphabet.

Phew!

photo by notsogoodphotography	via PhotoRee

 

 

In which Scott finally exhales:

 

Simon Mignolet and Asmir Begovic put on a goalkeeping clinic during Liverpool's hosting of Stoke City last Saturday.  After the Belgian initially waffled (tee hee) on a cross that Peter Crouch was able to lay off for Robert Huth to slam against the crossbar in the 8th minute, Liverpool's 'keeper was then solid throughout before foiling Jonathan Walters' attempt from the penalty spot in the game's final moments.  For his part, Stoke's Bosnian only allowed one of Liverpool's 11 shots on goal to escape his considerable reach.

 

Only once did I seriously question Mignolet and that was when, in the 17th minute, he was far too casual with the ball at his feet and nearly had his clearance snuffed out by the rapidly approaching Stoke forward.  But his save in the 42nd minute on Walters' excellent shot was simply brilliant.  Unfortunately, his efforts were matched at the other end by Begovic who stood up to Jordan Henderson's effort in the 34th minute and somehow reached the youngster's shot in the 63rd minute.  All that before a circus-act save on Steven Gerrard's freekick in the 79th minute.

 

As a Liverpool fan, the contest was enjoyable and comfortable for most of the game before frustration began to set in later on.  While the final statistics show Liverpool controlled the ball 55% of the time, that's not how the game felt.  Aside from against-the-run-of-play chances, the Reds really bossed proceedings until the final stages.  Even so, they were unable to penetrate the penalty area during the first 10 minutes until Sturridge's first goal was waived off for him being a half-step offside from the freekick.  Minutes later, Kolo Toure announced himself to Anfield with a  banging header from a corner that dented the crossbar.

 

25 minutes in, Stoke City began to claw their way into the competition but Liverpool were still controlling tempo and possession by winning the ball back remarkably quickly.  In fact, as the game wore on, that was the most noticeable aspect of Liverpool's play.  It was almost as if there were a rule that whoever lost the ball had to sprint and sprint, with those nearest swarming too, until they won it back.  That type of pressure led to Daniel Sturridge being with the ball at the top of the box to score a cracker by 'megging the defender and beating Begovic at the far post.  Sturridge, incidentally, was excellent, running at defenders with the ball, running selflessly without the ball and just generally being a nuisance for Stoke.

 

Marching On: Manchester United 2 - Stoke City 0

Photo by Official U.S. Navy Imagery on Flickr

Manchester United took another giant step in their inexorable march toward the 2013 Premier League title, emerging from their Sunday trip to the Britannia Stadium as convincing 2-0 winners over Stoke City. Although a trip to the Potters' grounds has caused many teams to break into a cold sweat in the past, the home side's poor form -- collecting the fewest points in the League since New Year's Day -- meant that United had little to fear from a toothless effort on a blustery day in Stoke.   Michael Carrick scored early and Robin Van Persie broke his two month goal drought late in the contest to momentarily stretch the lead at the top of the table back to 15 points over Manchester City.

Encouraging signs were evident from the beginning for the Reds, who scored on their first attempt of the game, as Michael Carrick toe-poked a failed clearance past Asmir Begovic's outstretched arm and into the net for a 1-nil lead less than five minutes in.  It was another set piece goal in a season full of them for the away side, and one that compounded Stoke's considerable woes: Fortress Britannia is in the process of being transformed into a stronghold in name only, as the home side fall closer and closer to the relegation zone.

The home crowd waited until the ten minute mark to begin showing their displeasure, although it was unclear if they were jeering their own side's poor showing, or United's ability to keep possession for minutes at a time, the ball pinging back and forth and side to side through the away team's lineup.

Events finally veered back toward normality near the twenty minute mark, as Ryan Shotton's long throw in and Robert Huth's header in the box served as stark reminders of the home side's robust challenges and intended gameplan. The physicality seemed to drag United down into the muck and mire, as the brilliant passing display that graced the first 20 minutes of action was a distant memory as the clock hit 30 minutes.

The teams took turns trading fouls before the first bandage came out, an event surprising at the Britannia only in that it appeared on the head of a Stoke player, Andy Wilkinson. By the time first half injury time was blown dead, Stoke had managed to morph into a team of vampires, sucking all the life out of the game and dragging the visitors down to their subterranean lair.

Best Served Cold: Round 19 in the BPL

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o If revenge is a dish best served cold, Adam Johnson's missile at Sunderland must have been slippery as ice. At least that's the way it appeared as the shot skittered underneath Joe Hart's arm and into his net to beat the City 'keeper on his near post for the winner at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.

o Stoke City, as encapsulated on one play, a Jonathan Waters goal that sealed the Saints' Boxing Day victory over the Scousers: a) long throw in; b) the ball head flicked from one Stoke player to another; c) the ball controlled with the chest; d) the ball volleyed in mid-air off right foot; e) Stoke players celebrate when ball hits the back of the net. Never touched the ground....

o Victor Moses has made quite an impact on the Chelsea attack, giving it the teeth and incisiveness that its fancier attackers lack. For all the ooh-ing and ahh-ing about Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, it's been the addition of the former Wigan man who has made the Blues' offense really turn over. While the other boys are dancing, Moses takes the ball directly at the opposition, requiring a ton of defensive cover, and allowing his fancier teammates to be operate more freely. Full credit to Rafa Benitez for recognizing this, and bringing into the starting lineup a man that former boss man Di Matteo seemed to overlook too often.


o But if he got that one right, oh, man, do we think he has the next one wrong: Perhaps it's just us, but the only thing more ridiculous than the thought of David Luiz playing midfield is the actual sight of David Luiz playing midfield, hair billowing in the wind. The Brazilian looks really good -- almost like he belongs there -- until he gets into the final third with the ball and has absolutely no idea what to do with it.  We also witnessed a lot of standing around and watching other players near the 18 yard box. It's hard to tell if Rafa is doing this just to pull our collective legs, or just to piss off the Chelsea faithful, but this is an experiment that looks as if it could go badly wrong.

o Least intimidating sign in any English Stadium, at any level: "This is Loftus Road."

Wayne's World: Manchester United 4 - Stoke City 2

Photo by MEDIODESCOCIDO on Flickr

Q. Was there anyone unexpected in the Manchester United starting lineup yesterday?

A. Why yes, of course, thanks for asking. Despite our undying love for him, we nevertheless found it somewhat surprising to see David De Gea in between the sticks for the home side, given the Spaniard's reputation for weakness in the air and the Potters' inclination to lob high balls into the box.

Q. How'd the game open?

A. In typical United style, as Wayne Rooney opened his scoring account for the season. Unfortunately for the Reds, it was an own goal that Wazza contributed to the cause as the visitors took an early lead. Again.

Q. So the defensive miscues were back?

A. Yes, in all their glory. United's back line somehow contrived to make John Walters and Peter Crouch look like Xavi and Lionel Messi. A very thick Xavi and extremely tall Lionel Messi, mind you, but you get the point.

Q. [Insert typical Van Persie goal/equalizer question, etc.]

A. Surprisingly, no. Once again it was Wayne Rooney to the fore, leveling the score line at one, and finally hitting the back of the net at the right end of the pitch.  It's worth noting that RVP's cross set up the goal, however: struck low and hard, the Flying Dutchman put the ball on a platter for his striker-cum-midfielder partner in crime.

Q. [Insert typical Van Persie goal/equalizer question, etc., again]

A. Yes, on the stroke of halftime, Robin was in the net, off a terrific Antonio Valencia cross, one which nutmegged the Stoke defender. Van Persie contorted his body just so to steer the ball into the side netting for his eighth United goal of the season, displaying his world class talent for all to see and allowing the rather placid Old Trafford crowd to show off a modicum of their enthusiasm.

Of Fouls and Flops: Liverpool 0 - Stoke City 0

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Correspondent Scott calls it like he sees it:

A team of large, striped battering rams marched into Anfield on Sunday determined to bludgeon the Reds until more than just their uniforms matched their nickname.  Tony Pulis' Stoke City played hard, rough and dirty at times to bully Liverpool out of more points that the home side deserved.  The 2/3 possession and 3 times as many shots seem a familiar storyline this season, as is the disappointing result.  But what stood out about this clash was the brutal, by hook or crook style of play to which the visiting team resorted - even more than they usually do.

The six yellow cards shown to Stoke players could easily have been doubled.  Yes, I know there aren't twelve players but more than one deserved a second, and let's not forget the subs. The award for highest degree of thuggery clearly goes to Robert Huth who was bent on taking Luis Suarez out of the game one way or another.  His purposeful stamp on the Uruguayan, in only the third minute of the game, deserved a red card and set the tone for the afternoon.  That nothing at all was called was shameful and fueled Stoke's confidence that they could carry on with impunity.  When the referee finally began to dispense cards, it was really too late for anything other than a quasi rugby game.  Between severe, ball-not-there body checks, studs up tackles, blatant tripping with hands and more late challenges than could be counted, Stoke City unquestionably earned their hard-nose reputation and really one-upped themselves to just plain dirty.

Of course, every story has two sides and, while not of the same variety, Liverpool or, more correctly, Suarez, was guilty again of simulation - this time shamelessly flopping between two defenders.  Maybe a cleated foot to the chest will knock some sense into him and he'll realize that he is never going to get the close calls and will likely get fouled more without punishment until he begins to resist the urge to flop.  It's one thing not to get a penalty, it's another to lift your shirt and see red welts.  And for as much as I think Brendan Rodgers is doing right with this team, defending Suarez and claiming that he does not dive is a mistake.  If Suarez won't change his own behavior, then Rodgers should do it for him. 

Last Rites: Round 35 in the BPL

o Arsenal came out for the Cockney Derby looking more like the side that spent mid-week going toe-to-toe with the current European Champions rather than the side that spent Wednesday watching that game from their couch. Which only goes to prove that tired minds can be worse than tired legs.... The nil-nil draw likely suited both sides: Chelsea's hopes of finishing fourth are still alive, as is their momentum going into Tuesday's key clash with Barca, and Arsenal are still looking fairly comfortable in the race for a Champions League spot.

o Hatem Ben Arfa is a difference maker at this time of the season. The Frenchman made something from nothing, turning a routine out ball into a dangerous cross that ultimately led to Newcastle'a first goal against Stoke. Call me cazy, but between Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse, I'm beginning to believe the Magpies may nip the final Champions League spot.

o Who would've thought in January I wouldn't be including Demba Ba in that prior sentence?  It's a funny old game....

o Stoke is mind numbingly poor on offense: 32 goals in 35 games, and not a one added to that total on Saturday. Personifiying the Potters' stupefyingly poor performance, Cameron Jerome came on as a mid-game substitute, and dribbled the ball into a complete dead end down the left side of the pitch no less than 3 or 4 times in his time on the pitch.

o Sunderland 0 - Aston Villa 0. Does this surprise anyone? Two poor teams with little to play for....

o Brad Freidel looked every one of his 40 years of age on Saturday when he was slow to react to a free kick that even our own Columnist Ed could have outrun. No doubt the shot was well placed by QPR's Adel Taraabt, but Friedel evidently must have been suffering from some severe arthritis as he creaked toward the ball.

That Was Easy: Manchester United 2 - Stoke City 0

photo by NCinDC	via PhotoRee

It was Ben Amos to the front of the line last night for his Premier League debut, on an evening that ended up being much easier than first envisaged.  Greeted by the news of a David De Gea illness (I wonder if lack of confidence is catching? I believe it must be...) and an Anders Lindegaard knock, the United faitfhul were right to be slightly wary of facing a battle hardened Stoke City team at Old Trafford with only their third choice goaltender available for duty.  With the Potters currently lying eighth in the League table and playing a lineup with a decidedly attacking bent, the young 'keeper was given an assignment that few would relish, even for their inaugural League effort. 

But lo and behold, a strange thing happened on the way to a tough assignment: assisted on defense by veterans Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, and complimented by youngsters Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling, Amos handled the few difficult chances he saw with considerable aplomb and self assurance, as United overcame a determined Stoke defense with a couple of efforts from the penalty spot, and saw out an easy 2-nil victory to remain bang on Manchester City's heels heading into a crucial three game period.

Ji-Sung Park, Dimitar Berbatov and Chicharito also made rare starting appearances for the Reds, as United sought to bounce back from the weekend defeat at Anfield.  Once again, though, it was veteran midfielder Paul Scholes who conducted the orchestra and drove the United attack in the early going.  Sitting deep in the middle and pulling the strings, Scholes controlled the tempo of the game, as United sought to patiently find weaknesses in Stoke's defense. The Potter's gameplan, on the other hand, became evident with Jonathan Walters' first long-range bomb: shoot early and often to test the unproven 'keeper. With Scholes' positioning allowing Michael Carrick to play further upfront than is customary, Stoke had few opportunities in the game's opening minutes to further apply their strategy.

The Reds' attack built into a flurry of forays in and around the box, as the home side controlled 75% of the ball in the game's first 10 minutes. Although United also controlled more of the ball over the next ten minutes, as well, their possession was more of the prodding and probing variety than the dangerous brand of football that this United side is capable of at its attacking best.  Once again, it was Antonio Valencia who created the most dangerous of the opportunities, as the core of the United flow ran through Scholes and the Ecuadorian, the former just wide of target with a hard-hit laser, and the latter darting in crosses from the right-hand flank.

After thirty minutes, though, Tony Pulis had to be satisfied with the effort of his men, as the game reached the half hour mark with the scoreline unscathed; although United were indeed controlling the action and bossing midfield, the paucity of real chances for the home side was bound to please the Stoke boss man.  Meanwhile, despite the attack-minded lineup they fielded, Stoke seemed to forget its initial instincts, as they sat behind the ball in an attempt to pull of what no club in 41 games had done at Old Trafford: shut out the home side.

Planted by the Potters: Stoke City 2 - Spurs 1

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James makes a return to these pages, in search of the silver lining in Spurs' weekend's loss to Stoke:

Spurs' fantastic league run had to end some time.  And in gazing at the schedule through the last few weeks there were two games that popped up as troublesome:  Chelsea at the Lane next week and our trip to the Britannia last Sunday, a notoriously difficult place to play for reasons that are well known. The "cold Tuesday at Stoke" expression seems particularly profound after the events of last weekend.

Although the location, support and weather are clearly factors in Stoke sitting 8th and for Pulis never having been relegated despite negligible budgets and talent levels, the main reason for Stoke's recent success is their Neanderthal style of play in a league that, overall, is evolving from the hoof and throw mentality.  But not the Potters, who not only employ the style but seem to happily embrace it. This is so even for their fans, who are famous for chanting "we only score on throw ins" and taunted Spurs at the end of the first half on Sunday with "2 nil to the rugby team."

Of course none of this is a surprise for those that follow the Permiership and certainly not for Harry Redknapp and his Spurs.  But there they were in the first half looking like they were continually trying to play chess in the middle of a game of checkers.  Credit to Stoke who came out ready to play, vastly more so than the Lilywhites.  They consistently beat Spurs to loose balls, bullied them all over the pitch and took full advantage of Spurs' sloppy marking (the second goal was the otherwise sublime Scott Parker's worst moment so far in a Spurs' shirt) to race to their first half lead.  Even when Spurs made the occasional counter attack, it appeared that a cross would come aimed haphazardly at Adebayor in the box surrounded by four red and white striped trees.  It was during the first half of this game that I realized how short a team Spurs are, particularly without Dawson and King in the back, while, for some reason, Gallas and Kaboul, for all their virtues, seem genetically unable to get more than six inches off the ground.  Stoke took full advantage of this in the first half and did all the annoying things the Potters do - one could read whole chapters of "War and Peace" while Shotton dried the ball with his special ball-drying shirt during any one of the hundred throw ins Stoke executed.  

Yes, But Can They Do it on a Cold December Night in Stoke?: Week 15 in the EPL

Lots of 10am Kickoffs on Saturday meant the inability to really watch and concentrate on more than one game at a time -- and loyal readers of this space might have a hunch that it was the Manchester United match that got the closest view.  Consequently, this column is a bit more focused on Sunday's action than is typical:

o Steve Keane looked dressed for a funeral yesterday on the eve of his one year anniversary at the helm of Blackburn, wearing a gray suit, silk rep tie and black overcoat as he stood stolidly on the Stadium of Light's sideline. The Manager could have been forgiven for thinking his choice of dress was appropriate, as he was just about in the process of laying the "sack Steve Keane" movement to rest before his side gave up an 85th minute equalizer and a 93rd minute winner at the Stadium of Light -- a result that was extremely harsh on the visitors and that may well lead to Keane's own demise.

o Keane may have lost the Blackburn fans, but he clearly hasn't lost the locker room, as evidenced by the way his boys threw their bodies around the box in a determined effort to keep Sunderland out of the net -- especially in the game's second half, a 45 minute rampage that saw the Black Cats throw wave after wave of attacks at Rovers.  The two late goals will mean even more calls for the Keane's head, though, and one can perhaps find fault with the team's increasingly deep lying positioning, which left Yakubu more isolated than Robinson Crusoe, and gave the impression that Roves were more interested in hanging on to their early lead than they were in trying to finish the game off with a second goal.

Stoked Up About Peter Walton

photo by charenton_	via PhotoRee

Wayne Rooney rests his sore hamstring as Dimitar Berbatov is thrust into the limelight with his first start of the season at the Britannia on Saturday. Away to Stoke is always going to be considered one of the toughest games of the season, and the Bulgarian will need to be at the very top of his game if United are to repeat last season's late victory here. Berba is joined up top by Chicharito, and the visitors' attack will also feature Luis Nani and Ashley Young on the wings and Anderson and Fletcher in the middle of the park. David De Gea's defense comprises Antonio Valencia, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and fan favorite Phil Jones, and the Spaniard will face a stern test with Stoke's extra-large bodies and strong set piece play.

Rory Delap's first long throw of the afternoon leads to an early opportunity for the Potters, but it's a clear-as-day penalty committed by Jonathan Woodgate that really grabs the eye in the early going. Woodgate extends his arm to shove over a streaking Mexican missile, as Javier Hernandez breaks free on goal in the game's third minute, and it's an utter mystery as to why referee Peter Walton decides not to point immediately to the spot. Although it's clear from the play that Walton's vision is suffering today, Chicharito's leg and hip must be hurting even more as he's forced from the field of play after a stoppage of nearly three minutes.


Stoke's plan of attack on Saturday involves fouling early and often to begin the contest, bundling over not only over Hernandez, but also Jones, Evra, and Nani in quick succession.  It's a real rough and ready first ten minutes of the game, and as Chicharito limps off due to the lingering effects of Woodgate's shove, it's Michael Owen into the breach to repair the United offense.

The early boil must cause Tony Pulis to fear that Sir Alex may not invite him to share a bottle of post-game wine, as the contest seems to settle down a bit at this point.  Some of the game's early heat is removed and neither side creates much in the way of offensive chances.  Manchester United look a bit labored at the halfway point of the first half, and neither Nani nor Young have yet to make much of an impact on the day's action.  Not content to be denied any longer, though, it's at this point that Nani pops up from nowhere to play a quick one-two with Darren Fletcher, before cutting inside and through the vaunted Stoke central defense -- beating about half the team in the process -- and finishing expertly with his left foot to give United the lead.

Stoke City Potters and the Toothy Draw

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It's only week four, but we sense some doubts have been raised in Correspondent's Scott's hopes for a Liverpool victory parade at season's end:

At the Britannia Stadium last Saturday, Liverpool showed why most commentators believe they will challenge for fourth place at best, and only their fans believe they have a chance at the title.  But even this fan’s hope has taken a beating after a loss in the type of game they need to figure out how to win.  Forget the vaunted Stoke defense and the particularly parsimonious play of Asmir Begovic in goal – when you dominate a game from start to finish and spend most of it camped out in the opponent’s half, you need to win.  And you don’t do it by blowing breakaways and missing untended goals….

With Andy Carroll and newly-signed Craig Bellamy on the bench, Kenny Dalglish’s squad faced Peter Crouch’s new team on a blustery British Saturday.  But the crisp breeze did nothing to focus play at first, as both sides were sloppy with passes and seemed to be playing a game of hot-potato rather than keep-away soccer.  Not only was the play sloppy, but so were the challenges – which occasionally bordered on comical.  To wit, Martin Skrtel literally had to unravel his hand from Ryan Shawcross’ shirt after defending a corner in the 10th minute.  But the chuckles trailed off (at least for the traveling Liverpool contingent) when Jamie Carragher was wrong-sided in the box by Jonathan Walters in the 20th minute, and tried unsuccessfully to hide his clutching from the ref.  The resulting penalty marked the only shot on goal for Stoke City during the game and one of only three shots in total by the Potters; this compares to 24 shots by Liverpool, 7 of which were on goal. (Ed. Note: Just think about this statistic for a second.)

Jarring, and Other Random Thoughts on EPL Week Four

photo by Chris Makarsky	via PhotoRee

It was jarring to see Mikel Arteta in an Arsenal shirt on Saturday. It's always strange the first time you see a player identified so strongly with one club suddenly wearing another team's kit. Likewise Niklas Bendtner at Sunderland -- although it was refreshing to see he's still useless, no matter which shirt he wears -- and maybe a little bit less so, Peter Crouch at Stoke.

o Fernando Torres didn't look very happy sitting on the Chelsea bench Saturday. Nor did Florent Malouda. I wonder what the atmosphere is like inside that locker room.... My sense is that it's probably closer to Manchester City's than it is to Manchester United's. At the latter, it's expected that you're going to spend some time on the bench -- that is, unless your name is Wayne Rooney or Nemanja Vidic. At the former, however, all of the players who signed there were originally lured in under the pretense that they'd not only be starting, they'd be leading the 'revolution.' It's a massive difference in mindset.

o Arsenal may have won Saturday, but they continued to look completely impotent in front of goal this season. No matter what personnel Arsene tries, his boys can't seem to find the back of the net. That is, unless the opposition goalie throws his clearance right at the feet of the closest defender, allowing the ball to settle nicely in front of Andrei Arshavin with the goal begging. If that's what it takes for Arsenal to score, though, it's going to be a very long season indeed at the Emirates.

o Liverpool found out on Saturday just how tough the away trip to Stoke is. I read somewhere on Twitter that the last three English champions (United, Chelsea, United) all won their away games at Stoke, but needed goals post the 80-minute mark to do so. I guess Liverpool won't be joining that club, but that'll only be a real surprise to their most ardent supporters.

Tying One On at The FA Cup

photo by Thirteen Of Clubs	via PhotoRee

If ever one needed proof that the English require marketing lessons on instilling some drama in their sporting events, look no further than the FA Cup:

Is there anyone out there that would rather see Manchester United and Manchester City playing for the FA Cup Semi-final, rather than in the ultimate game itself? I know, I know, the draw is held at "random."  But somehow I have to feel there might be a way of making this appealing match up happen the way we would all want to see it rather than the way it turned out.

Compounding the issue, the FA -- in its infinite wisdom -- has decided to stage the semis at Wembley itself, not saving that venue for the final. Kinda takes the magic out of singing "We're going to Wembley" when four sides can sing the same tune....

And I'm certain you're all -- like me -- chuffed to bits over the Stoke - Bolton Semi-final blockbuster. Uncertain if I'd watch this one in the League, let alone in the Cup. I'll have to make a snap decision, depending on how full my laundry bag is looking at gametime....  If Bolton didn't have avid tweeters (and USMNT star)  @stuholden and @kevindaviesbwfc (and his wonderful donkeys) I'm pretty damn certain I wouldn't watch at all....

And again, why does the FA hold the draw before all four teams are announced?  If you want to see a proper sports draw, take a look at the one held last night by the NCAA. That's how it's done, Mr. FA.

And herewith, some further thoughts on the weekend's Cup matches: