Damage Control: Manchester United 0 - Sunderland 1

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The damage done to Manchester United under its former manager showed that it will take well more than a single week to undo, as a listless home side lost to Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday, the game and United's offense moving at a torpid pace throughout the afternoon.  Offering up a performance that looked as uninspired as it felt, the only silver lining for the club is that the most recent loss -- United's 12th of the season -- mirrored Tottenham's weak performance earlier in the day, and continued to insure that the Europa League will not interfere with the team's schedule next season.  

Herewith the individual performances in a match that will be glossed over very quickly in the season review DVD: 

De Gea: Uncharacteristically atrocious clearances in both halves. His best defenders after the interval were the goalpost and the bar. 5.5

Jones: Featured on offense as well as defense. 6.0

Ferdinand: Looked every bit of his 35 years today. 5.5

Vidic (c): Wide with his header and should've been dismissed for his tackle on Altidore near the final whistle. 5.0

Evra: He's trying but it just ain't there for him this season. 5.5

Nani: Consistently inconsistent and much too easily moved off the ball. 5.0

Carrick: Ventured further forward but lost Larson when it mattered most.  Too many poor, slow passes and turnovers to count. 4.5

Fletcher: Did next to nothing to stop the cross that led to Sunderland's opener.  It was an inspiring comeback, but it may be time to call time on his United career. 4.5

Young: A busy first half but unable to supply much quality. Looked better on the left than on the right, but we're using "better" in a relative sense. 4.5

Black Mark: Sunderland 1 (2) - Manchester United 2 (1) -- Capital One Cup Game Summary and Player Ratings

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Manchester United's season veered from bad to worse on Wednesday night as the Red Devils crashed out of the Capital One Cup semi-finals to 19th ranked Sunderland, losing 2-1 on penalties at Old Trafford.  United manager David Moyes suffered yet another indignity in a season full of them, overseeing a side that was dominated during the second half and was only a minute away from exiting the competition at home without taking the game to penalties, a fate it later appeared some of the United players may have preferred.  Saved only by an increasingly infrequent Fergie-time goal by Javier Hernandez, United were unable to convert from the spot, spurning four of their five opportunities, and sending a midfielder and two defenders among others forward for their roll of the penalty dice.

A bad, late error by David De Gea, an easy shot rolling calamitously off the goalkeeper's hands and into the home side's net, neatly encapsulated the team's fate this season.  A mental lapse, a lack of confidence and an inability to bounce back sealed the Red Devils' fate on an evening that will remain a black mark on Moyes' CV whether or not he is able to turn around his United career.  In one of the uglier performances in a season already full of none-too-pretty game -- particularly at home -- Wednesday night's performance may have taken the cake, and only served to pit loyal United supporters even further against each other.  And so the question after the latest setback remains: patience or flight, and what cost does each entail....?

As Moyes looks increasingly overwhelmed, United's Board must decide how best to move forward.  Taking a quick glance at the manager's obviously agitated body language, however, it is becoming clear to this observer that he may be aggravating the problem currently rather than alleviating it.  Moyes clearly needs help; the question is, will he receive it?

Herewith, some individual ratings on a night that many of the players will want to forget as quickly as possible:

De Gea: Little to do before the break and less to do afterward. A schoolboy mistake, though, by the 'keeper to send the contest to penalties. 4.0

Rafael: A threat darting forward and blazed just over the bar to start the second half. 5.0

Smalling: An all over menace and massive in the air and on the ground. 7.5

Evans: An unlikely hero with the first goal. Kept his team afloat on defense, too. 7.0

Büttner: Little to recommend, to be honest, other than a late block of an Adam Johnson shot. 5.0

Januzaj: Silky smoothness on and off the ball, although much too willing to pull the trigger from distance in the second half. Needs to bulk up in the off-season, too. 6.5

Carrick: Metronomic in the middle and forced to help out on defense, as well. 5.5

Fletcher (c): Quiet performance but began to be steadily overwhelmed in the second half, and suffered too many late game turnovers. 5.0

Abject and Powerless: Sunderland 2 - Manchester United 1

Is that all they got?
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Unlike Sir Alex and Sir Bobby, we had to find ways to keep ourselves amused last night watching the very latest drab display of football from Manchester United.  So, to match the modicum of effort put out by the players in a 2-1 loss to bottom-of-the-table Sunderland, we condensed our usual player reviews to only one word per each half played, viz:

De Gea: Beaten and Spotted. 5.0

Rafael: Useful but Mouthy. 4.5

Vidic: Upset and Heady. 5.5

Evans: Blocked and Covered. 5.0

Evra: Hand-y and Unimpressive. 4.5

Valencia: Missing and Predictable. 4.0

Carrick: Deep and Puzzling. 4.5

Cleverley: Useless and Again. 2.0

Giggs: Offside and Fading. 4.0

Prodigy: Manchester United 2 - Sunderland 1 -- Player Ratings

Photo by Grilled Cheese

Adnan Januzaj's surprise inclusion in Manchester United's starting eleven paid considerable dividends for his manager, as the young prodigy's second-half brace lifted the visitors to a 2-1 victory over the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening.  Januzaj livened up an otherwise flat United attack, and the Belgian's two goals near the hour mark turned the game around for his side, which had been placed in a losing position through Emanuele Giaccherini's early goal.  Although Sunderland threatened to equalize and pull back two points in stoppage time, United's second half turnaround took the wind out of the home side's attack for much of latter 45 minutes, and the visitors had just enough gas in the tank to get the game over the finish line.

Herewith, our thoughts on the individual player performances in a match that handed a critical three points to the Red Devils: 

De Gea: Absolutely nothing he could have done on Sunderland's goal.  The Spaniard offered a goalkeeping master class to deny Giaccherini near the half hour mark and keep his side in the contest. 8.5

Rafael: Looked sloppy going forward, repeatedly offering a poor first touch. 6.5

Jones: Made mistakes before the interval, but his beautiful recovery tackle saved a 3-on-1 for the home side. Worked hard to hold Altidore in check for the second half. 7.0

Vidic: An inability to clear the ball cost his team dearly in the game's first five minutes, but the big Serb pulled it together after the interval to steady the ship.  7.0

Evra: Picked out Nani with a perfectly-weighted first half cross, and his vision was rewarded again when Januzaj stroked home the Frenchman's cross to pull the visitors level on 55 minutes. 7.5

Nani: Missed a volley when he really should have hit the target. Was willing to shoot, but often seemed to slow down the offense.  6.0

Januzaj: Displayed a brilliant touch and looked easily the team's most lively attacker on the night. Was constantly forced by the home side to try something spectacular and often succeeded. Offered a superbly composed finish to equalize at the 55 minute mark, and a stunning volley handed his side a lead they would not relinquish just six minutes later. 8.5

Obsequious Fawning: Week 1 in the Barclay's Premier League

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Week one is in the bag, and farlieonfootie's regularly insightful and often irrelevant insights on the Premier League are back for your reading pleasure:

o Don't know about you, but we were left scratching our collective heads over the style of football that Sparky is attempting to play at Stoke City....  If "no possession and relatively few chances" are what the Potters' owners had in mind when they sacked Tony Pulis in search of a new footballing identity, then we guess they're well on track.

o After watching Sunderland lose at home to Fulham this Saturday, we're wondering if Jozy Altidore will live to regret his move from the Eredivisie to the Prem.  Racking up 30 goals a season will give a striker some confidence, and Jozy's recent play for the US National Team has shown that he was positively coursing with self assurance after his year in Holland. But playing for a Sunderland side that looks as if they could be relegation fodder could have a belief-sapping effect on the young American. Only time will tell, but we're already watching.

o And speaking of Jozy Altidore, his former employer -- the Hull City Tigers, for those paying attention -- were playing the role of sacrificial lambs for the love-in that was Jose Mourinho's to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Looking more toothless than tiger-ish, Hull City showed the drastic gap in talent that often exists between the top teams in the League and those coming up from below.  And Steve Bruce, with his embarassingly obsequious fawning over the 'Happy One,' has just demonstrated once again that all great players do not turn out to make great managers. It's gonna be a long year at Hull.

Things That Sound Good But Aren't

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Like Ed's thoughts today, for starters:

I'm excited that Borussia Dortmund is in the Champions League finals. I've always enjoyed their attacking style of play, their talented midfielders, and of course Robert Lewandoski. I'm also a fan because I know they're not a big budget team like Manchester United -- just to throw out a name -- a team who last year bought one of their players and if rumors are correct tried to buy two. Bummer to be Shinji Kagawa at this point I guess.

I'm also pleased for Bayern Munich, not so much because I'm a fan, but more because they fought so hard for it and are (regardless of outcome) the best team in Europe this year. The way they pressed high but backed off once beaten, the way they played a physical man-to-man defense on Xavi and Iniesta, they way they countered fast with width -- none of this was that new, but I expect everyone to do it against against the diminutive Spaniards now that we know it works. Plus Bayern were probably unjustly robbed last year when they lost to an inferior Chelsea squad who played above their ability throughout the tournament. I also remember Bayern beating up Manchester City in the group stage. At the time I thought City was weaker than I thought; now I think it was Bayern that was tougher than I thought.

But yet, but yet, despite all of this I'm not that excited about the final. These two teams know each other very well and play each other often. Advantage Bayern, therefore, even though Dortmund has gotten the better of them in the past. Plus, it would seem this battle has already been decided in the Bundesliga (I could say that over and over even though I don't like watching it much) over a 38 game season. Playing it again, even if for a different trophy, just doesn't seem right.

* * *

Wow, was that really Barcelona that Bayern played the other night? I've never seen that team look so positively meek. Some time ago I wrote an article questioning whether it was personnel or tactics that made Barca so good. Well, Barca without Messi and several others looked so very ordinary, it would seem an argument in favor of personnel. That said, their coach missed much of the season, and the team also looked sloppy tactically or at least positionally. Either way, I'm still shocked that Bayern put them out of the tournament 7 to 0. They lost their will and their pride. And now Bayern has their old coach? Egads!

The Avengers: Manchester United 1 - Sunderland 0

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Manchester United defeated a dour and dejected Sunderland side in Saturday's early kick off, 1-0, to maintain their 15 point advantage over second place City. Never really threatened, the Red Devils cantered to victory, with the final score belying the ease of the away side's win.  Riding a Sunderland own goal to an early lead, United tidily avenged  their perceived slight from the Sunderland fans in last season's finale.

If the crowd ended the game dejected, they had begun it in a considerably different mood, with bright sunshine greeting both teams as they walked onto the pitch at the aptly named Stadium of Light. Although United had the game's first efforts on target, it was the home side who carried a fair bit of the early pressure, in large part due to mental mistakes from the visitors. Both teams attacked in the early going, with Sunderland pressuring the ball high up the pitch -- a strategy that worked well when going forward but increasingly left the home side exposed at the back.

After their sloppy opening it was the Red Devils who looked the brighter of the two sides -- passing the ball with authority and creating multiple openings in the Black Cats' defense. It was just past the 25 minute mark when the continual pressure finally paid off -- in the form of a Robin Van Persie ball that ended up in the back of the net. Although claimed by the Dutchman, it's unlikely that the Dubious Goals Panel will fail to notice the double deflection that ended with Titus Bramble beating his own 'keeper for the game's opening score.

Jonny Evans replaced an injured Rafael at the game's half hour mark -- the Brazilian fullback having tweaked his groin -- as United's recent embarrassment of riches at the back were reduced by one. Fifteen minutes later, a quiet half ended with both sides marginally disappointed -- the home side for having failed to test United's goal, and the visitors for not having done more with the opportunities they were presented.

Five Thoughts We Had While Watching Manchester United 3 - Sunderland 1

Photo by WoodleyWonderWorks on Flickr

Buzzing: Old Trafford was buzzing like a bee yesterday. As the club enters a December holiday period glutted with games, there was the very real sense -- palpable even on television from across the Atlantic Ocean -- that we are entering a most important time of the year. The season will be made or broken over the next few weeks, and given City's deserved victory over Newcastle in the early Saturday kickoff, United needed to out the pedal to the metal. So would they?

Rampaging: The Reds overwhelmed Sunderland in the game's early going, with Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley and Antonio Valencia gutting the Mackem defense like a fish. After weeks of frustrating the fans, Young has been a revelation the last two games: he's been pacy and incisive.  And Cleverley is beginning to make the central midfield position his own -- playing with boundless energy and determination.  He's adding goals to his game, too, which is a massive bonus.

Assisting: Not only is he scoring, he's adding assists to his game. Who? Robin Van Persie, of course. Some strikers do nothing but shoot -- Daniel Sturridge, we're talking 'bout you! -- while others appear selfish almost to a fault. Van Persie strikes the perfect balance -- up near the very top of the League scorers' table, but also setting the table repeatedly for others --Wayne Rooney first and foremost.  RVP is sharp as a razor right now, and if he can keep injury free this season you've got to believe the Reds are the odds-on-favorites to be lifting the BPL trophy come May.

Mood Ring: My Minute-by-Minute Account of Round 38 in the BPL

Photo by Half Alive -- Soo ZZZ on Flickr

10:00 am EST/3:00 pm BST   Ring Color: GOLD – UNSETTLED/ MIXED EMOTIONS

As Survival Sunday kicks off, I’m a bundle of emotions – Sad, because it’s the last day of the season; Upset, because it appears as if Manchester United have thrown away the title after being up by eight points with only six games left; and Nervous -- Could this be the day of another stunning comeback from the Champions, who can never be truly counted out?  Only time will tell.

10:10am EST / 3:10pm BST   Ring Color: BROWN – RESTLESS

Stealing a page out of his mentor’s playbook, Sparky appears to have ordered his troops to play “Park the Bus” today at the Etihad.  But can they do it for 90 minutes?  It looks highly doubtful.  Actually, to this point in the match, it looks highly doubtful that QPR can even string two passes together.

10:12am EST / 3:12pm BST   Ring Color: PINK – FEAR / UNCERTAIN

Jonathan Walters has scored for Stoke.  Crap!  Now QPR don’t even need a result today to stay up.  What little bit of hope was there to begin with has been cast aside.

10:14am EST / 3:14pm BST

West Brom have scored for the second time in four minutes, and Arsenal have thrown away a one goal cushion.  Could Spurs really finish third…?!  I might crack a beer and settle in for the long haul….  It’s not too early, is it?

10:20am EST / 3:20pm BST     Ring Color: RED – ENERGY / EXCITED / ADVENTUROUS

Wazza’s got United on the board with a header past Mignolet to give the Once and Future Champions a 1-nil lead at Sunderland.  It’s good news, got me a bit excited, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  There’s a lot of football still to be played.  And let’s not forget -- it’s QPR on the pitch at the Etihad.  I’m definitely cracking a beer, though.

10:25am EST / 3:25pm BST 

An easy giveaway by Sean Wright-Phillips, gifting the ball to Ya Ya Toure, followed by a near hand ball just outside the box.  Once again, Wright-Phillips is the donor. Is he literally trying to hand the title to City?

10:30am EST / 3:30pm BST   Ring Color: BROWN – RESTLESS

QPR appear to be growing into the game, although you know City will still create their chances.  To borrow a trite phrase, QPR are defending like lions, but they’re draining my mental energy.  Come to think of it, they’re draining my beer, too.  Better get another.

Two Minutes Too Much: Manchester United 1 - Sunderland 0

“You’ve got to just try and go on to the end and see what happens.” Ryan Giggs, May 13, 2012

United have a tough task: to take care of business at the Sunderland today, and become only the second team to win at the Stadium of Light since December.  Without a win, nothing happening at the Etihad matters -- at all.  To accomplish the task, Sir Alex sends out Wayne Rooney by himself up top, flanked on the wings by Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, who themselves bookend Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs in the middle.  Defensively, Jonny Evans makes a surprise return, partnering Rio Ferdinand in the center.  The central pair are supported by Phil Jones and Captain Patrice Evra, and, as usual, its David De Gea in between the sticks.

It’s a mixed beginning, the two teams feeling each other out to begin the contest, with Sunderland perhaps having a bit of the upper hand in terms of attempts on goal.  The midfield battle is fierce, and both teams struggle to create much of anything of real value.  Antonio Valencia looks most lively for the visitors, bombing down the right hand side of the pitch, but to this point in the match he’s been unable to replicate the quality of his runs with a through ball or cross.

Rooney pats Phil Bardsley on the back and shares a joke after narrowly missing a header – this may be a hard fought game, but the goodwill between the two sides is also readily apparent, with Sunderland’s squad showcasing three former Red Devils amongst the players in the Red and White home strip.  Jones heads just over the bar with Mignolet stranded in No-Man’s Land, as United ratchet up the pressure just a bit as the game approaches twenty minutes gone.  Although the crowd is initially slow to react, there’s a score just seconds later, as Rooney is picked out by none other than Jones – attempting to make amends for the poor crosses that have betrayed his youth of late.  United’s main man stoops to waist height to steer the bouncing ball past Mignolet and just inside the post, and United have landed the first punch of the day, grabbing a quick 1-0 advantage.

United are far more patient on offense today, content to pass the ball around and probe the Sunderland defense for openings.  For their part, Sunderland have fallen back into more of a counterpunching style after conceding the opener, gifting large swaths of possession to their blue clad visitors.  The development suits United well: Giggs peppers the Sunderland ‘keeper from close range, after a Sunderland mistake in the box hands the ball to the Welshman in a forward position, and Rooney bangs a free kick off the bar, Mignolet growing roots in front of goal.  Although the score is unchanged, the visitors are in the lead, as well as the ascendancy.

 Although there are 22 men on the pitch, it’s clearly the Wayne Rooney show today, as Wazza could already have had a hat trick by turning in Young’s miscue, but the ball continues its skittering run through the goal box, deflected just wide by United’s Number 10.  Frazier Campbell misses a fine opportunity of his own at the other end, as both defenses yield chances.   The visiting crowd grows quiet as news of a Manchester City goal sweeps the visiting end, but the men in blue soldier on – there’s business still to be done.  The teams trudge off to the locker rooms with Sir Alex marginally the more satisfied of the two managers: happy would be much too strong a word, given the events back in Manchester.

Cards Galore: Newcastle 1- Sunderland 1

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Our 11 year old Columnist Connor returns, putting all our other writers to shame:

Inside Newcastle United

Established…………………….. 1892
Manager………………………... Alan Pardew
Nickname…..…………………... The Magpies
Stadium…….…………………... Sports Direct Arena
English Premier League Titles.. 0
Position…………………………. 6th

                                               
Wow! What a game! I don't know how many of you watched the Newcastle v. Sunderland match that aired on Fox Soccer this past weekend, but I did -- and what a game I saw. Right away, the game started off violently, as only 37 seconds into the match, Sunderland player Lee Cattermole got himself a yellow for a sharp tackle on Newcastle's Cheick Tiote. That would be one of 11 cards that were to be handed out at the Sports Direct Arena, on a crisp Sunday afternoon match chock full o' fouls.

In fact, five of the eleven Newcastle starters were handed a yellow. Those included Tiote, Demba Ba and the list goes on and on. Newcastle has had a card problem this year, and their agression really did show on Sunday. Actually, a yellow in the 24th minute by Mike Williamson happened in the box. And, as we all know when it happens in the box, the other team is awarded a Penalty Kick: even the fantastic Tim Krul could not stop Nicklas Bendtner and his powerful right foot!  

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.

Nothing to Talk About: United 1 - Sunderland 0

Photo by Joshjanssen for Flickr

I'm at a total loss of words concerning Manchester United. The last couple of United games have been dreary, boring, and totally uneventful.  Long gone are the days of one touch, breezy, tiki taka football, the kind in which a score always seems just around the corner. Now what we're "treated" to are games characterized by long periods of  Red possession followed by no profitable outcome. Yesterday's first half was a perfect example: 45 minutes of pure drudgery, piled on top of the ninety minutes of crap that United produced on Wednesday. I'm beginning to think that Sir Alex's master plan is to bore other teams to death.... Salvaged only by a Danny Welbeck goal (courtesy of Wes Brown) in first-half stoppage time, United "rolled" to a 1-nil victory over a terrible Sunderland side on Saturday, and picked up another three points at Old Trafford to celebrate Sir Alex's 25 years in charge of the Red Devils.

I'm not sure what's causing the doldrums.  Could it be Wayne Rooney playing in midfield, instead of his customary role as striker?  Or could it be that United are lacking a creative player in the middle of the pitch, one who could pull strings and make things happen?  Whatever the reason, United continued to look slow, lethargic, and totally out of sorts, even playing at home. The offense is bland, predictable, and all too narrow, and the Reds caused Sunderland, not exactly an EPL defensive standout, very few problems on the afternoon.  Fortunately on the reverse side, Sunderland caused United almost no problems at all.  Perhaps they miss Asamoah Gyan more than they thought they might....

Sitting on the bench, three former United stand outs, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Gary Neville, must have sat there wondering what happened to the vaunted offense that they once knew. Even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, also in attendance after a championship season in Norway, would have had a hard time saving this team in its current state.

On the bright side, Saturday represented the fourth clean sheet in a row produced by the United defense, a statistic of which to be proud.  If only the office were as proficient as the defense right now, there would be much more -- and many more interesting things – to discuss.  So for now we'll leave it at this: three more points ground out toward the season total.  They all count the same in the end.

This is a bored farlieonfootie for November 6.

Too Close for Comfort

Gonna be brief today, just time for a couple quick observations from Sunderland's poor home loss to Liverpool on Sunday.  In case you feel like complaining, talk to the hand, and take a look at the beer review I also put out today.


Anyone else wonder what Andy Carroll was doing to Martin Skrtel when he put his hands on the defender's hips for a corner kick in the Sunderland 18 yard box (see picture below)?  It looked like either the pair were rehearsing the police frisk that typically ends Carroll's Saturday nights out, or were reliving their activities at a "boy's weekend" that went horribly awry.  Either way, I'm not sure I want to know the intimate details of the duo's corner kick "training regime."

Add Kevin Friend to the growing list of EPL referees who can't do their job properly.  For the second year in a row, the Sunderland - Liverpool match had a controversial goal as Friend incorrectly pointed to the spot after consulting with his assistant referee.  After initially indicating -- correctly, in my opinion -- a free kick outside the box, Friend appeared to have his mind changed by his linesman.  If I were a visitor from outer space this season, my understanding of the assistant referee's main responsibilities would be that it's his crucial -- and often only -- duty to get offside and penalty calls wrong.  Full stop.


This is farlieonfootie for March 22.

Double Standard

photo by prayitno	via PhotoRee

Arsenal unbeaten 10 games in a row.  Sunderland four straight losses.  Game at The Emirates.  Arsenal with everything to play for. Prescription for a blowout, right?  Didn't quite work out that way Saturday.

Arsenal looked decidedly indecisive and looser with the football than Sven Goran Erikson is with women without Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Alex Song and Theo Walcott on the pitch against the Black Cats. Mark my words: if the Gunners look like this against Barcelona on Tuesday they will get eaten alive. Last year's 4-nil spanking at the Camp Nou may be looked back at fondly.

I don't want to say I called it, but I called it. Nicklas Bendtner, fresh off beating up on the hapless Leyton Orient mid-week, displayed all the killer instinct of a Tibetan monk in front of goal against Sunderland. Missing chance after chance, and reverting back to form after his once-every-few-months outburst, Bendtner showed Arsenal fans why they shouldn't count on lifting too many trophies this season. 

Laurent Koscielny has the physical presence of a stick figure on a hunger strike in central defense for Arsenal. The Gunners better hope they don't play any upcoming games in breezy conditions, because Koscielny looks as if he might blow away in any gusts greater than about 10 miles per hour.

On Blackpool and My Other Favorite Charlie

Columnist Ed, on Blackpool, and two of his favorite Charlies:


It appears that few other than us here at farlieonfootie believe that Charlie Adam is worth more than £ 3.5 million, and so as each day passes it becomes more likely that he will remain a Tangerine.  This is obviously good news for Blackpool fans, and, I think, for Charlie Adam.  The Tangerine story is compelling and not yet finished; it would be a shame for him to depart before his work is done.

Last week, the Tangerines were beaten by a bottom-of-the-barrel West Bromwich Albion side.  While the game drew some positive reviews in the press, it was actually the worst game Blackpool has put together in quite some time.  Perhaps this was the result of the emotional game against Liverpool on Tuesday – the lack of depth of the team is always a concern.  Regardless, other than Vaughan, who scored a top flight goal and played extremely well at midfield, Blackpool’s typical rapid and sharp passing was off, and Neil Eardley was once again exposed repeatedly at the right defensive position.  



In fact, Coach Holloway had to pull Eardley in the second half because his play had become such a problem.  It pains me to say this, but while Eardley plays hard, his lack of pace and physical skill are continually a problem.  Expect the opposition to work his side more and more every week until he either raises his play (surprisingly, he’s only 22) or a change is made.

This week Blackpool is at home against Sunderland, whose head was recently removed when Darren Bent was sold for an astounding £18 million to Aston Villa.  I say astounding because that seems a lot for a team like Villa to pay in light of their recent fire sale of their squad.  In spite of this transfer, I expect Sunderland to come out charging in an attempt to prove that Bent is not needed.   However, if Blackpool is able to withstand this initial charge, the confidence of Sunderland should start to wane.  Blackpool will also need DJ Campbell to step up again; his missed opportunities at West Brom were painful.  Prediction?  I expect a Blackpool victory in this one, by a score of 2 to 1.

By the way, what’s up with that Sky Sports News transfer touch screen?  They have their commentators touch the team and then they click the player at issue.  The player does this bit where he turns takes a step and crosses his arms.  I have yet to see them fail to have footage of a player doing this.  Weird.  Kind of makes me want to do it and send it in to them....

More interestingly, a Charlie other than Charlie Adam has caught my attention at the network, and I’m speaking here of Charlie Webster.  The other evening she was commentating in a red cocktail dress and it definitely left me flaring my nostrils a bit (I find the ladies love that move). 


Yeah, this is what I'm talking about.

Kind of crazy, really, here in the US of A we’ve got Chris Berman and Linda Kohn, and in dreary old Britain they’ve got ladies like Charlie winking at me and talking all British like about "Leicester this" or "Newcastle that," or whatever really, doesn’t matter much.  Time to step it up ESPN . . . . .


This is farlieonfootie for January 22.

Reflections on a Weekend Full of Football

photo by Mrs Logic	via PhotoRee

Some scattered thoughts from a scatter brain, after a weekend full of games, derbies and otherwise: 

Manchester City - Wolves: City finally figured out how to turn on the offense this weekend. Having scored only 11 goals at Eastlands so far the entire season, the addition of the big Serbian Edin Dzeko inspired City to put four past Mick McCarthy's Wolves on Saturday. The only problem with the game plan was that Roberto Mancini was speaking to his offense when he talked about playing "wide open football," not to his defense. 

The City players certainly appeared confused, as they gave up three goals to Wolves, and could easily have left their home ground with a single point, if not for a timely intervention of Vincent Kompany and another by the woodwork.  Having been criticized before for a lack of offensive effort, it will be interesting to see of Mancini can get his team playing on both sides of the ball in the same game.

Making the Grade

  An Unauthorized Look at Chelsea's Report Card for the Holiday Season  
photo by amboo who?	via PhotoRee

Way back on Boxing Day – it seems a long time ago now, doesn’t it? -- we ran a segment asking questions of the teams at the top of the EPL heading into the holiday season.  With the football orgy now over and done, let’s take a look at how each team did over the busy period in which the race for the title has begun to clarify a bit.  Below are the questions we posed at the time, along with the results for the period.  As it’s back-to-school time for most students, we’ve also decided to include a grade for each team’s holiday performance:

Can Arsenal Challenge for the Crown?  The Gunners bested cross-town rivals Chelsea, and won a remarkably easy victory at St. Andrews over a typically tough-at-home Birmingham side.  Although Arsenal sputtered to a dour nil-nil draw at the Emirates with City, it was the Gunners perplexing draw at Wigan – and the weakened side that Wenger picked for the game – that should be the real focus.

Pre-Holiday Minimum Point Haul Necessary: 9; Points Achieved: 8.

Grade: B.

Can Chelsea Steady Their Wobble? The post-holiday Blues are in free fall, with only a fortunate, referee-aided victory over Bolton, and a shocking draw against Villa (a side that all other rivals beat over the holidays) to show for their troubles.  The loss to Arsenal can perhaps be explained, but what is one to make of their most recent loss at Molineux?  Chelsea look uninspired and clueless right now.

Pre-Holiday Minimal Points Needed to Assuage the Doubters: 9; Points Achieved: 4

Grade: F.

Rolling Downhill

photo by tinou bao	via PhotoRee

Another game, another victory as the Red Machine rolls on, picking up speed on the journey. Before the game, I worried United might struggle without Nani, but we didn't seem to miss him too much today. I hope the injury isn’t serious, because with Park heading out of town, Valencia out with a broken leg, and now Nani injured, we're getting a bit thin at the wide position. 

Nor did the two week break affect the players, dismissing another pre-game concern.  Sunderland spent the first 25 minutes of the game on the rack, as United showed incredible fluidity in attack.  The Red Devils’ movement on and off the ball, as well as their passing, were simply excellent today, the type of creativity, vision and execution for which Sir Alex has been looking.

• Today was the United we demand and expect to see, and Sunderland never had a prayer.  They spent much of the first half looking as if they were playing shorthanded, with a man in red seemingly always open on the attack.  In fact, Sunderland’s best defender in the opening 45 was the goal post, which twice denied United, frustrating both Berbatov and Anderson. 

• That would have been Berbatov’s only disappointment today, as he spent much of the day looking virtually unplayable.  His first goal was deceptively easy, Giggs sprinting downfield with the ball at his foot, Berba to his left, and Rooney to the right.  Although Giggs failed to pick out the Bulgarian on the run, Rooney made no mistake when Giggs laid the ball off to him, finding Berabtov so open it made one wonder where the Sunderland defense was hiding. Berbatov was completely unmarked, and quickly nodded the ball down and into the back of the net. 
  

Boxing Daze

photo by faster panda kill kill	via PhotoRee

So now it begins: the meaty part of the English football season. While the less-manly leagues go into winter hibernation for the next couple of weeks, the EPL kicks into overdrive with a schedule as jam-packed as Times Square on New Year's Eve. Beginning with Boxing Day tomorrow and ending on January 5th, eight of the next 11 days will feature EPL football. The next week and a half should go a long way toward answering many of the questions marks currently hanging over the teams at the top of the table, and give us a better idea of who'll be presiding at the top at season's end:

Can Arsenal Challenge for the Crown?  The Gunners host cross-town rival Chelsea on December 27th, and a loss to the Blues would throw even more cold water on the title chances of Wenger's boys.  Arsenal then travel to Wigan and Birmignham -- lying 16th and 18th in the table heading into this weekend, before hosting Manchester City at The Emirates on January 5th.  Minimum Point Haul Necessary: 9.