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Thursday 19 January 2012

Weekend thoughts...Henry Honeymoon Hiatus...

afternoon roaders! Hope you like the new layout. Again I'm toying with a few ideas and it will no doubt change between now and my next post..


I'll begin with a little clip of Samir Nasri, which you may or may not have seen. He was being berrated by two Liverpool fans who drove past him in the car after the reds won the first leg of their Carling Cup Semi against Manchester City last week.

Oh what a twisted individual I am.. bwahaha..



So after all the flack Steve Kean has been taking, it appears that his side are finding some form at long last. A victory at home to Fulham on Saturday - with a man down notwithstanding - was impressive. Indeed I had Fulham to win. Especially when Rovers' main goal threat, Yakubu, was sent off for a rake of the studs on Jason Lowe.

But after being reduced to 10 men, Blackburn's young pups really shone through. Particularly the improving Grant Hanley, the aforementioned Lowe and Junior Hoilett. But it was Rovers' trusted long-serving campaigners David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen who delivered the goods when it mattered. A few seasons ago Dunn was a maestro in the Blackburn midfield but recently, injuries have seen him lose form and be frequently benched. Tough, burly and hard working, if Dunn can recapture his scoring form for the run in, Blackburn have every chance of beating the drop. Which a month ago seemed a foregone conclusion.


The same could be said for the Norse Pedersen. Last season in particular, he was adept at creating opportunities and from set pieces notably, with his traction engine of a left foot and his uncanny knack to be in the right place at the right time. His both in and out-swinging corners were ideal for the likes of Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen to get on the end of.

This season so far however, probably in no small part due to Blackburn's lack of self belief as a whole, he has found himself bench-warming as Kean began his tenure with a stockier five mad midfield, often with natural defenders pushing up into a more active role ahead of the defence, past the centre circle. The prime examples being Phil Jones (last season) and now Steven Nzonzi. Gradually though, Pedersen has began to find his role in Kean's ever evolving system. Like with Dunn, Pedersen has shown glimpses of his best form and if Blackburn are to avoid the drop, they will need theses glimpses to become more permanent features of his game.



As a part time, suffering Tractor Boy, it brings me pain to see Norwich flourishing in the top flight. But all bias aside, Paul Lambert has got the canaries playing some very attractive stuff - with bite. So that pill is slightly easier to swallow as an admirer of good teams that play good football. But not just good; clever also.
The Championship's most prolific goal-scorer last season, Grant Holt has seamlessly carried his form through to the Premier League - even if it be from the bench - scoring 7 goals and notching up 3 assists so far this season. His partner up front Steve Morison is equally consistent, if not more with 8 goals and 4 assists. Norwich in an attacking, sense are the most consistent performers outside of the top 6. Add to this some very dynamic wing players and attackers like Pilkington, Surman and Wes Hoolahan and Norwich - I have no doubt - have got enough goals in them to survive and push for a top ten finish.


Finally this week I want to AGAIN talk about the Arsenal situation. I honestly I want to bash my head against a wall. Every time the club seem like making real progress, form drops, players get injured and the manager goes into denial. After a shocking start to the season, Arsenals progress had taken them back into the top four and at least a chink of hope in the title race. The glittering form of Robin van Persie had catapulted the gunners up the table in a matter of weeks. But had it not been for the Dutchman's work and effort, in the form of 18 goals and 6 assists, Arsenal's plight would have been significantly worse and I would argue Arsene Wenger would be out of a job.

 Now, after a turbulent festive period - as it was for many teams - of a draw to Wolves at home, a defeat to Fulham away, a  victory versus QPR at home and now a defeat to Swansea away, despite RVP continue to bang the goals in, Arsenal's injury trail once again has finally taken its toll. With Sagna, Wilshere, Jenkinson, Gibbs and Santos injured, the Gunners would have been fine, but then Thomas Vermaelen picked up an ankle problem and Koscielny was then having to be paired at the back with the immobile and oft clumsly German, Mertesacker, where Koscielny was doing quite well for himself at right-back. Even when Vermaelen played it was frequently at left-back (where is first played for Ajax) so when he wasnt there it was clear that the left side of defence would be exposed, or 'short' as Le Prof is never too shy to express...  


Now far be it from me defocate on my own welcome mat, but the striking situation at Arsenal is laughable. 4 strikers; 1 on loan; 2 ineffective; only 1 goal scorer.   It sounds like a plot line from a popular reality show. Maybe Arsene would be best to sit up and realize that this IS reality. this IS a 21st century football club. This IS a big club. Or was.... Thierry Henry's fairtytale return was epic and the stuff of legend. Orgasmic even.  I said it. I havent experienced that sensation for my football team for years; only angst, nerves and shredded nerves. Followed by anxiety attacks.

Great right?...

Henry's return is fantastic and yes, we are crippled by injuries in defence, but what else is new? when defence is low we - even more urgently - need a player to deliver the goals - and not from a winger. A striker. A 6 foot + quick versatile player who doesn't necesarily breaks the bank but who ISNT a) loaned out for the season b) fails to get a work permit c) gets benched for the majority of the season as he is not 'ready' d) is frankly rubbish or e) all of the above. Do me a favour.

The situation needs to sorted soon and I hope (probably in vain) that a striker is recruited to lighten the weight of expectation on RVPs already brittle bones and muscles.

Wenger's sand timer has now, once again, been turned upside down, having been rested on its' side......


Tuesday 10 January 2012

Festive fixtures...

afternoon and happy new year roaders! I am in the process of revamping my site. stay tuned.




Ii first apologize for the lack of posts recently. time simply hasn't allowed. but now it does. AHA. 

much has happened since mid-november. let us begin! 


Manchester City's unbeaten run went at the Bridge in mid December, albeit controversially and I made some interesting observations. City went one nil up through Mario Balotelli and then had a stonewall penalty appeal turned down when Branislav Ivanovic fouled David Silva just inside the box and had their claims waved away. From that point on City seemed to fail or at least get stuck. They barely created any chances and Chelsea took control of the game. 

From the moment Balotelli scored, the citizens seemed to lose a gear, mentally. They scraped past the Arsenal by a single goal, despite the gunners throwing the kitchen sink at them and then Stoke more comfortably 3 nil the weekend after. But after Aguero's goal on 54 minutes in that match they then failed to score in 200 minutes, which, with Manchester City's attacking arsenal (avoiding the obvious irony) of Silva, Dzeko, Balo, Aguero, Johnson, Yaya, Milner, Richards, Nasri and Kompany, would have seemed an impossibility.



The festive period was eventful for City, dropping 4 points; drawing at the Hawthorns, 0-0 and losing in stoppage time at the Stadium of Light to a resurgent Sunderland and a goal from substitute Ji.

Sunderland I will get onto... In these 2 games City visibly lost their spark; David Silva went off the boil, not to mention Dzeko lose his form and touch (due in no small part to his multiple bench appearances), but most notably - and it brings me great pain to say this, honest! - Samir Nasri's dissolving into the woodwork, with some very poor creative performances. Oh it makes me weep so....  

Yes, Manchester City have now somewhat regained their form with a win against a goal-shy Liverpool and a very impressive backs to the wall display against a team three nil up and yet nearly grab a late goal to secure a-near-looking impossible outcome, yes But it does show that City have weaknesses and can be beaten and will go through bad spells again. Especially if Kompany doesnt get his red card rescinded from sunday. If he doesn't, due to it being his second straight red of the season, he can expect a further ban. Which leaves City a captain down but also the best Premier league defender down, also. This could spell problems. I HAVE NO DOUBT.  

which brings me onto the red half of Manchester        (booooo)........


Since consecutive 5-0 drubbings of Fulham away and Wigan at home, Manchester United have suffered great hardships during the festive period, not least with a shock defeat, indeed arguably the biggest shock of the season thus far, at OT to Steve Kean's beleaguered basement dwellers, Blackburn Rovers, 3-2. Then just a few days later losing 3-0 at St J...ahem, I mean the Sports Direct Arena.....in a very lacklustre performance. Since the 22nd of December, Utd have began to see players dropping like flies; Young with a recurring toe problem, Vidic being ruled out for the season, Smalling with tonsilitis, Jones with a slight groin problem, Ferdinand with a knee injury. thats just the defenders. It has seen Manchester United's in-form Antonio Valencia being pushed back to right back with varying results. So this was really not the time for Nani to lose form and Wayne Rooney to go on (another) Boxing Day Bender with his darling wife.


Nani is still dangerous but seems to have picked up the habits on Gervinho and Arshavin; too much flair, not enough skill. The defeat at Newcastle was the perfect showcase for that. Even the unrockable Phil Jones was culpable with a laughable own goal in the last throes of the game. But vitally Utd were light in midfield and the pairing of Cabaye and Tiote were instrumental in shutting the red devils out for much of the game. Utd have just knocked out bitter city rivals City out of the FA Cup so will be buoyed, but with games against Bolton home and away to come, not to mention a massive game with Arsenal at the emirates, next sunday, January is going to be a crucial month for the Champions if they are going to keep up with City.


Without a shadow of a doubt, for me, the team of the Christmas period was Sunderland. Since Martin O' Neill took the reigns of a sinking ship, he has guided the Black Cats to the giddy heights of the top half of the table. Sunderland always had the players; last season was evident of that, but MON has a real eye for talent and is unearthing some real gems in his reserve squad. Not least in James Maclean. Maclean was one of Bruce's last purchases, for £350,000 from Irish Premier League side Derry City, from where Wigan's Connor Sammon came from. Bruce had him, but the difference between him and MON is MON is not afraid to blood talent in potentially tricky games.

O' Neill, did this in his first game in charge at home to Blackburn, when his side were 1 nil down with 20 mins to go. Many would argue that Maclean inspired Sunderland to their 2-1 comeback victory. Since then, the lad, 22,  has gone from strength to strength, starting his next two games versus Manchester City and Wigan, both victories, with him scoring Sunderland's third against Wigan. He also scored their second at London Road in the cup on Sunday. Already for me, his left wing position looks assured. He may not start every game, but he could really be a revelation with Seb Larsson on the opposite flank.


As could Stephane Sessegnon. When he first arrived at Sunderland just under a year ago, from the then considerably less well-off PSG, it was unclear where his best position was. He had the lightening pace, unquestionably, but first he was deployed on the left wing, then the right and finally through the middle, none which suited him. Then toward the end of last season he began to play as a ghost striker for Asamoah Gyan. This season he has continued that role just behind the on-loan Nicklas Bendtner and the two of them combine very well. But not only he gets service from the Dane, but now from the aforementioned Maclean but also Larsson and the ever adventurous Kieran Richardson.


Sessegnon is only 5'7, but at that height and with such agility he is able to pop up in awkward positions, and is a real handful for defenders. Stephane has had his fair share of injury problems, not least a recurring knee injury. BUT if he can stay fit and with Sunderland's new style of play and the freedom he gets, he could just be prolific for the second half of the season. Chelsea host Sunderland on Saturday and whilst the black cats are unlikely to replicate their 3-0 victory of last season, you really wouldn't bet against the diminuative Beninian to make his mark on the game, if not score.....


remember to keep an eye out for the new site.