February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
A romp it was not for the Gunners last weekend, but when the big names don’t fire, Arsenal always seem to pull the trigger somewhere somehow.
It is a true sign of a great team when defensive players can get forward and take the pressure of the strikers. Arsenal has to continue firing on all cylinders from all angles, as Chelsea stays in touch with a 1-nil victory over Boro. By the look on Jose Mourinho’s face after the final whistle, some pressure was released. Not getting a result in this game would have definitely raised some questions at the Bridge.
Everton managed to beat Portsmouth with a header from Tim Cahill. Portsmouth did deserve more out of the game, but that’s football. And Everton at the minute has the rub of the green. While Chelsea and Everton continue to keep Arsenal honest, Newcastle United are beginning to put things together under Graeme Souness after a 3-1 win over West Brom. But the team that has raised a few eyebrows is Manchester United since the return of central defender Rio Ferdinand.
With the United defense looking somewhat more composed, they have beaten Liverpool, 2-1, and stopped the Spurs’ unbeaten run with a 1-nil result. Nonetheless, the spotlight does not stop with Ferdinand. A bigger anticipated return to football is Wayne Rooney, who is back since his injury in Euro 2004. Ferguson was not shy in stating that Rooney was on his mind for a Champions League debut against Fenerbahce. It’s incredible, really, when one thinks of all the players at United who are still waiting for their chance. Louis Saha seems to have gone missing in action and he looked sharp enough last season. The list of potential superstars at Old Trafford is ridiculous — and let’s not forget the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Liverpool, after losing Steven Gerrard in that United defeat, went on to beat Norwich, 3-nil, at the weekend. Although the Pool did have luck on their side with a deflected goal or two, it is a massive three points for the team’s moral. While the opposition could be considered weaker, Liverpool have shown some mettle after such a demoralizing loss to Manchester United.
Middlesbrough and Aston Villa were brought down to earth but will now be at their most dangerous in the next few weeks. Both will want to prove themselves after Chelsea outclassed Boro and Villa could only tie with bottom of table Crystal Palace. It can only be imagined how furious David O’Leary was with his players. Nevertheless, Lee Hendrie hit a superb equalizer when he bent the ball with the inside of his foot around a defender and in it wrapped inside the post.
Charlton continue to hold their own in top flight. Thanks to Irish goalkeeper Dean Kiely, Charlton beat Blackburn 1-nil. New Rovers manager Mark Hughes was disappointed that his side did not get more out of the game. But what Hughes has to realize is that Blackburn was playing against arguably the best keeper in the league. In fact, Kiely was brilliant last season and he has picked up exactly where he left off. Kiely has always been second to Ireland’s Shay Given and that will likely never change despite the fact there is little or nothing between them. Kiely has been the key reason why Charlton remain successful with match-winning saves every game.
Bolton Wanderers are off to a flyer, holding on to the fourth spot in the table. But manager Sam Allardyce was furious with Bolton’s 1-all game against Birmingham over the weekend. The Wanderers’ boss called the performance a “disaster.” He could not understand why his team went from playing a high-level game the previous week against Arsenal to such a bad game this week. Sam should take it easy on that one.
There was a time when Bolton was more concerned with staying up and avoiding relegation. After opening up the season really well with that 2-all game against the Gunners, a tie vs. Manchester United and a 1-nil win over Liverpool, does Sam think the smaller clubs will fear his Bolton. Clubs still believe that there is a better chance to get points from Wanderers than, say, Arsenal, Manchester United and even Liverpool. It seems way too early for Mr. Allardyce to lose the cool. He should enjoy top flight at the moment because it may not last. Stating his team was disastrous is a bit over the top; at least they didn’t lose.
Even for Crystal Palace, at the bottom of the barrel, things are not considered disastrous despite having only won 2 points out of 21. In fact, things are on a very positive note as manager Ian Dowie has just signed a four-year contractb. There is no need for Palace to think things are looking bad. Ask supporters whose team are only on 4 points, namely Southampton, West Brom and Norwich. No doubt Palace would gladly take having to win only 3 points toward the end of season to avoid relegation.
Teams who are also struggling to find early form are Blackburn Rovers on 5 points and Birmingham on 6. Palace will also fancy stealing a point or two against teams like Manchester City, Portsmouth and Fulham who hover over the relegation zone. And if you think Palace are out of their league, the teams making early runs for Premier promotion are Reading and Wigan. Imagine Reading in the Premier. But it’s the teams chasing these minnow clubs that look set to return to the Premier — Ipswich, Stoke, Sunderland, West Ham, QPR, Watford, Millwall and Coventry. While Wigan continues to stay in the hunt, this chasing pack will get stronger.
Mick McCarthy’s winning run has not gone unnoticed as he drags his Sunderland from the pits of the table to fifth place. Old First Division favorites Stoke City are in fourth place and the club are relentless in making their return to top flight. In third place is Ipswich Town, who is once again fighting to win promotion. The Town seems to have what it takes to get back in to the Premier but lack what it takes to stay there. Nonetheless, their tradition of playing good football will keep them in touch with promotion toward the end of the season. Such traditions always come through.