This blog is slowly turning into a 'what happened at the weekend' type thing. That wasn't the plan but what fits eh?
This past weekend confirmed once again for my money, why the EPL is the best league in the world. Just for the sheer speed and excitement of it. In a matchday that had 35 goals, with Stoke v Newcastle to come. None more spectactular than those of Messrs, Hoilett and Morison for Blackburn and Norwich respectively.
I start, with glee, with events of Saturday lunchtime at the bridge....
As I have written before, Chelsea Football Club's tenure under Andre Vilas Boas, would mean attacking football and lots of it; no sitting back for him. But also it would mean a real lack of defensive nouse, wide gaps opening up and the counter attack a real form of threat for opposing sides. Unfortunately now for AVB and Chelsea, the lack of defence is outweighing the attacking element, or rather the clinical element. But the main problem is that all too often, even at the this early stage, much of the blues' games have descended into playground football games, that most times in the big games, they have been on the wrong end of...
This regime has given certain players new leases of life. Frank Lampard for one. He is rediscovering his ability to be the right place at the right time that have seen him notch up 4 goals and 2 assists in his last 4 games. His hattrick at the Reebok a prime example. Another is Jose Bosingwa. But this is Chelsea's BIG achilles heel. The fact he has began galloping up and down the right wing has horribly exposed Terry and David Luiz at the back. In fact Arsenal's equaliser from Andre Santos, exhibited this with acres of space on the right wing fot the brazilian (not the quickest of players) to run into.
Then of course there is David Luiz himself and his inability to stay in defence.....
In my opinion the game against Blackburn at Ewood on Saturday is huge. Chelsea need to stop a run of two successive defeats becoming three, which at a bottom of the table side would, on paper, look unlikely, but after unlucky defeats to in-form Spurs and a VERY unlucky draw with Norwich at Carrow Road, it wouldn't be a massive surprise to see a favorable result for Rovers. Surely Ivanovic will be brought in to paper over cracks on the right wing?
I really like AVB. Hes a great character, great manager. He is the ethos of attacking football, much like Wenger. But if the defensive lapses continue he could be out the door faster than you can say Christmas Turkey...
Arsenal on the other hand, are on the right side of poor defensive displays, or rather defensive lapses. Arsene Wenger seems to be subconsciously adopting the old Real Madrid adage of 'you score, we'll score more'. The 5 3 victory saw the Gunners record their fifth league victory in a row. A far cry from their relegation form of September. Certain players are at the heart of their resurgence more than others.
Robin van Persie continues his startlingly scintillating form having already scored 12 goals this season. But also his creativity is really shining. If anything his first touch and control is getting even better. The man is in the best form of his life and appears to be getting some luck in the injury department. If he signs a new contract at the Emirates he will be pushing Thierry Henry for status as the greatest Premier League player in Arsenal's history. I really hope he continues in this way and with upcoming games with West Brom at home and Norwich away after the international break, he has every chance.
Arsenal's midfield is really now starting to shows its teeth. Mikel Arteta is showing his cards but moreso, the welsh wizard Aaron Ramsey. Ramsey is starting to show traits of Fabregas in his play. He is starting to supply that killer ball into the final third and when he isn't doing that he his getting up the field in positions to score aswell, as his goals against Marseille and Spurs have shown. But where Arsenal have improved in no small way down to Koscielny and Santos. Andre Santos is not the quickest full back in the world, but he is strong and his was excellent against Chelsea, particularly in the second half. he kept their main threat Juan Mata out when in the crucial areas of Arsenal's half. More performances of this ilk will see him as first choice left back ahead of the injury prone Gibbs. Also a big mention for Koscielny who blocked almost everything, where the still slightly questionable Per Mertesacker didn't. When he could.
Against Everton, we saw a side of Manchester United certainly I had not seen in a long while. They parked the bus. Boy did they park it. Two full double deckers across the penalty area. So scared were Utd of conceding on the counter attack at 1 nil, the defence the, midfield and even Wayne Rooney just consolidated from the back. In the absence of the broken-toed Ashley Young, SAF elected to leave the other wide wing player, Nani on the bench also and instead opted to play a front three and nothing else. Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck were always going to be isolated; and it was the way Manchester Utd wanted to play it. Negative? Well, yes but you can understand the managers tentativeness after their worst home defeat in 80 years....
Finally on to the messy stuff. Totnum. Ugh...
I am an honest blogger, first and foremost, so I will do just that, whatever and wherever my allegiances may lie and hatred seep out. Yes, Tottenham were pitted a against a side in QPR who have conceded 14 goals already this season. But noneless the interpassing on show was nothing short of mesmeric. Scott Parker really has been Tottenham's best signing in years - as everyone knew he would be -. Even if he may not be the greatest goalscorer or assist maker, Parker just holds all the pieces together he is the engine room of Spurs and together with the little croatian magician, Modric, they inspire wizardry. Indeed, Scotty Parker appears to be the sorcerer's apprentice. He simply does not get the credit he deserves.
Tottenham's most overrated player of last year Bale, appears to be be finding his killer instinct on the left wing again. Both of his goals were created by Aaron Lennon but finished with aplomb by the welshman. If he continues in his ways this season once again Spurs will be knocking on the top four door. But still for me Spurs' lynchpin in the dutch master Rafael van der Vaart. He scored again on sunday to make it five games in a row he has found the net. After a slow start I and many doubted he could recapture the form that for my money made him Spurs' player of last season. He has scored 6 in the last five games and once the dutch man finds form he really is lethal. If he and Adebayor link up well, with Bale and Lennon on the wings and with Luka Modric in behind, Spurs could yet be a force to be reckoned with.
But as I say, Spurs will many tougher days at the office.....
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