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 Especially if Kompany doesnt get his red card rescinded from sunday.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.
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.
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