Sonatine 11374 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 The Premiership Weekend Winners & LosersMonday October 03 2005 By Pete Gill Winners Chelski You may not like their manner, method or money - and it's only Chelski fans who do - but it's very difficult not to admire their efficiency, organisation and ruthlessness. Their football rarely wows, but wow they're good. Wigan Trespassers from the Nationwide aren't supposed to be like this. In relative terms, Wigan's four successive Premiership games without defeat are as remarkable as Chelski's 100% record. And which team has been closest to denying Chelski a win in the league this season? Manchester United Reverted back to the 4-4-2 formation with Wayne Rooney in the middle. And hey presto: an apparently mediocre team was transformed into a flourishing attacking unit. The folly of marginalising Rooney in favour of a muddled formation was made patently obvious at Craven Cottage. On Sunday night, David Beckham turned in his second man-of-the-match performance this week as a right-sided midfielder for Real Madrid. It's not that difficult to work out is it, Sven? Ruud van Nistelrooy Lucky boy. A mis-hit penalty sneaked in, while Ruud's sneaky circumventing of the offside rule was given an official seal of approval. By the laws of the game, they were right to do so. Although Match of the Day highlighted the clause which states that a player is offside if he gains an advantage from being ahead of play, the law also states that a player is only offside if he is seeking to gain an advantage. Ruud was deemed not be to seeking such an advantage because when Rooney passed to Park, the Dutchman was walking back towards an onside position. Had he have been standing still - and thus not making even a token gesture of returning to an onside position - then the flag would have been raised. Cunning? Yes. Unfair? Definitely. But legal? Unfortunately, yes. Tottenham Hotspur Here’s another for the 'Aren't football fans fickle?' chronicles: The Tottenham fans who had been booing Charlton for not kicking the ball out of play so that the prone Mido could receive treatment suddenly going mute when Jermain Defoe broke away for Robbie Keane's winner. Martin Jol's assertion that Spurs "deserved" victory was questionable given that Charlton had dominated the first hour of proceedings, but he would have been on surer ground if he had claimed that they deserved victory for introducing Keane as a third striker with the score at 2-2. The gamble may have backfired had Luke Young’s shooting boots respected the law about players taking a measure of revenge against former employers, but Spurs' winner had an element of natural justice. After 18 months of 4-5-1 austerity, a bit of attacking adventure deserves to be rewarded. Perhaps that's why the Charlton keeper jumped out of the way for Keane to score. Jose Antonio Reyes Reyes is a peripheral figure when shunted on to the left wing, but he delivered another effervescent performance as Thierry Henry’s replacement this weekend. While Wenger has been reluctant to pair Reyes and Henry, preferring a split partnership that invariably involves either Dennis Bergkamp or Robin van Persie in a withdrawn role, the Spaniard's recent displays must leave his manager sorely tempted to experiment. Although the Gunners continue to miss Henry, they have not missed him taking charge of their set pieces. Although Sky were right to point out that Arsenal are far more dangerous at present from corners and free-kicks, they were wrong to attribute that solely to the return of Sol Campbell instead of also appreciating Reyes’ ability with a dead ball. Middlesbrough Finally won a Premiership match after midweek exploits in Europe. But when will they finally be able to string two good performances in the Premiership together? Stupid Kick-Off Times If it's true that the reason why Man Citeh v Everton kicked off at the (arguably literally) ungodly hour of 11.15 on a Sunday was so that the TV audience in China could watch Lie Tie and Sun Jihai then let's rejoice in the fact that they managed just five minutes of action between them. And hail the disgruntled fan who turned up in a pair of pyjamas. Losers Rafa Benitez If Steven Gerrard’s 25-yard rasper had sailed into the Kop rather than the top-right corner of Olympiakos' net last winter, Martin O’Neill would now be receiving a call from Anfield. Discuss. Liverpool So much for Chelski being afraid. And so long as Liverpool continue to deploy a single striker there is very little for any opponents to be afraid of. Isolation nullified the threat of Peter Crouch on Sunday. Even winning any number of the numerous long balls that were hoisted towards him was a futile effort because there was rarely a team-mate within shouting distance to collect any of his knock-downs. The sole occasion on which Crouch caused Chelski a serious threat was when he took a 40-yard cross on his chest and turned Ricardo Carvalho. Not even Pele could execute that trick on a regular occasion. Without a second striker, a top-four place is unlikely. Merseyside Football Everton are rock bottom and can no longer deny they resemble relegation candidates. Liverpool resemble the non-scoring version of Wimbledon and are out of the title race in the first week of October. Everton have scored once, Liverpool four times. Add in the 14 goals Tranmere Rovers have scored this time and only then do the three Merseyside clubs equal the ‘goals for’ record of Chelski. Dietmar Hamann Surely playing his last season of top-flight football. Joe Cole Taking a dive to win a free-kick or a penalty is bad enough. But the 'taking a dive whilst clutching your face in a bid to con the ref into thinking that an opponent has given you a forearm smash' will presumably be a subject of grim conversation when Cole and Steven Gerrard meet up for England duty this week. One other point: if Joe had just stuck a toe on to Damien Duff's shot as it trickled in, would Chelski's second goal have been disallowed for offside? Maik Taylor Pulled off 12 saves to deny the Gunners - and the two second-half stops from Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires were genuinely outstanding - before being beaten when a shot that was curling wide took a deflection off one of his team-mates. "Best ever performances" aren't supposed to end like this. Steve Bruce Continues to make an utter arse of himself on every occasion that one of his charges is correctly sent off. "The problem we have is that we are too honest in the Premiership," he twittered following Kenny Cunningham’s dismissal for the epitome of a clear-cut red card offence. "The rules are applied to the extreme. We all know the referee was right under the laws to show the red card, but I'm convinced he would rather have shown just yellow." Why? Ljungberg was clean through on goal. Cunningham prevented him scoring by fouling. What possible evidence is there to suggest that the referee would have preferred to have shown yellow? If Bruce wants honesty he should lead by example and occasionally admit that his players deserve to be sent off rather than continually defend the indefensible by talking bollocks. Alan Curbishley Berated Tord Grip before the Tottenham match for adding "extra pressure" to the occasion by talking up Danny Murphy's England credentials. If Curbishley regards a few banal comments that are being aired in every football boozer in the land as pressure, he should withdraw now as a contender to replace Sven. Danny Murphy Just what did Sven see on Saturday at the Valley that made him pick the anonymous Jermaine Jenas over the impressive Murphy (and Scott Parker) in the latest England squad? Rio Ferdinand Culpable for both of Fulham's goals, Rio's timing, not for the first time, couldn't be worse. His omission from the England team is deserved on form alone, but Sol Campbell's inclusion would also serve as a useful reminder to some of the other under-performing England 'stars' that their places are not sacrosanct. The Ministry Of Defence It was twenty years ago that walkie-talkies first became available in all good toy shops. Perhaps Graham Poll should try one of those next time rather than rely on MoD gadgetry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Every week there is a dig at Jenas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 It annoys me a bit, I mean have the press just realised he does nowt because he's playing for Spurs? That said, it's quite amusing given his supposed reasons for wanting to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut 145 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 (edited) The Rafa Benitez point is a f*cking brilliant one too. Edited October 3, 2005 by Optimistic Nut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 It annoys me a bit, I mean have the press just realised he does nowt because he's playing for Spurs? That said, it's quite amusing given his supposed reasons for wanting to leave. 42234[/snapback] They were having a go at Jenas last season tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 The Rafa Benitez point is a f*cking brilliant one too. 42243[/snapback] Wrong though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 The Rafa Benitez point is a f*cking brilliant one too. 42243[/snapback] Wrong though. 42404[/snapback] There were one or two 'divine-righters' on 6-0-6 last night. Apparently winning the European Cup six months ago isn't enough for some... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut 145 Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 The Rafa Benitez point is a f*cking brilliant one too. 42243[/snapback] He's spent £40m+, and has managed to take Liverpool below a Rooney-less Everton, and now into a 5th-8th place team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 The Rafa Benitez point is a f*cking brilliant one too. 42243[/snapback] He's spent £40m+, and has managed to take Liverpool below a Rooney-less Everton, and now into a 5th-8th place team. 43124[/snapback] They won a trophy last year though didn't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 The Rafa Benitez point is a f*cking brilliant one too. 42243[/snapback] He's spent £40m+, and has managed to take Liverpool below a Rooney-less Everton, and now into a 5th-8th place team. 43124[/snapback] How can they be below the "Scouse Mackems" when Everton are bottom of the league? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7025 Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 tbh honest id gladly get finish below sunderland this season to have the european cup in our cabinet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut 145 Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 The Rafa Benitez point is a f*cking brilliant one too. 42243[/snapback] He's spent £40m+, and has managed to take Liverpool below a Rooney-less Everton, and now into a 5th-8th place team. 43124[/snapback] How can they be below the "Scouse Mackems" when Everton are bottom of the league? 43794[/snapback] Sorry, I meant last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheInspiration 1 Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 tbh honest id gladly get finish below sunderland this season to have the european cup in our cabinet 43804[/snapback] Yeah, but if we finish below Sunderland, chances are we'd be relegated, which would be strange should we win the cup, especially if we aren't even in the Champion's League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Shearer Is God 0 Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Danny Murphy will not get picked for England on the simple basis that he plays for Charlton Athletic now & not Liverpool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheInspiration 1 Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 And he's not "in his prime anymore", perhaps, being 28 or so? What about Bent? The fact he plays for Charlton and simply not Liverpool could be the reason Crouch may get picked ahead of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 10, 2005 Share Posted October 10, 2005 Danny Murphy will not get picked for England on the simple basis that he plays for Charlton Athletic now & not Liverpool. 43890[/snapback] Two questions: How many England starts did Murphy get while at Liverpool? Who does Luke Young play for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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