After the international break
by Paul O'Donnell
With the close of play Sunday league action will not resume for Round 6 until Sept 15. Expect some changes, perhaps a manager or two will lose his job, before the competition begins again.
Looking at the league table after 5 games you’d be more than just a little surprised. The ’big four’ are closing in but it does have a decidedly strange appearance with Liverpool at the pinnacle for the first time in 5 years (on goal difference). Their neighbors on the blue side of Mersey, Everton tied with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal on 10pts with Man City only 1pt back in 5th. Strange in a good sense, as far as I’m concerned, and not just because Liverpool is on top. Competition is a good thing and I’m all for breaking the stranglehold of the big four. It’s not likely to last but it’s fun for now at any rate.
As I’ve done for years I pick my top six before the season starts. Well, it’s often more than just a little hopeful, and usually wrong in the end, but these were my picks for 2007/08 (made on August 9, 2007): Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, Tottenham, Arsenal and in 6th Aston Villa. Right now my pick of Spurs to edge into the top four looks way off but its always fun to see how it turns out in May. I also pick the three to be relegated and here they are for this term: Fulham, Wigan and Derby in 18th-20th in that order. That also means Birmingham City and Sunderland both stay up which is going out on a limb to be sure. We’ll see.
Man United 1:0 Sunderland
Roy Keane’s return to Old Trafford wasn’t quite enough inspiration for the Black Cats but they certainly didn’t make it easy pickings for SAF’s guys. Saha, making his first appearance in a long spell for United due to a rash of injuries notched the only goal of the game (71) to ruin any hope of a magic result for Sunderland.
Liverpool 6:0 Derby
Yes, that is correct 6-0. The Reds got 2 from both Torres and Alonso along with Babel getting his first for the club and sub Voronin adding another to thoroughly smash Derby. Yank watchers will note that Eddie Lewis has made his way to the EPL (finally) after years of plying his trade at Preston and last year’s horrific season at Leeds but it looks as if that won’t be for long with his Derby anchoring the table. Don’t look now but after 10 goals in a week at Anfield with a 4-0 win over Toulouse in CL qualifier and two wins on their travels in EPL action the Reds have quite a different look about them this time out. Will they really challenge for that elusive league title this time?
Bolton 1:2 Everton
Anelka got Wanderers level in the 54th after the 10th minute opener from Everton’s Ayegbini and the last gasp winner came in the 89th from Lescott of the Toffees to send the Reebok’s faithful home in despair. Bolton has only 1 victory so far while Everton have now won their 2nd on the road to stay near the top of the table.
Fulham 3:3 Tottenham
In another London derby Fulham rallied from 3-1 down to snatch a point at home and steal 2 from Spurs. The match was thoroughly dominated by Spurs especially in the opening half whose fans will rue the missed opportunities after running out to a 2-0 lead after 27 minutes on goals from Kaboul (9) and Berbatov. Dempsey pulled one back for Fulham in the 41st with a thumping header off a corner to give some hope to the home fans. Spurs dominance continued however and their youngster Bale made the deficit 2 again in the 60th before the Cottagers notched two of their own in the final 15 minutes (Smertin, 76 and Kamara, 89 on a spectacular overhead) for the final scoreline. Jol’s Spurs have established a habit of leaving the decision late with losses to Sunderland and Man United and now dropping these two points just before the final whistle. Jol also was handed the kiss of death by his board announcing their full support earlier in the week. Many are wondering if this collapse in a match they had well in hand could be the end of the line for Jol at White Hart Lane. Any move by the board would be ill advised from my perspective since Jol has established the best winning percentage of any manager for Spurs in the last 20 years. Plus, despite this loss of the 2 points, in their last two games Spurs have played quite well at Old Trafford and Fulham but their first choice keeper (Paul Robinson) has looked like anything but England’s #1. Sooner or later the keeper must make that big save to rescue his mates and Robinson clearly has not done that. Also, keep in mind that Jol has not had 3 of his first choice defenders so far this season. However, it is a puzzle why their all time top signing Darren Bent can’t get on the pitch and Defoe continues to be used as a spot player. Tottenham will recover whether Jol continues as manager or not and it would be a travesty if he were sacked now.
Newcastle 1:0 Wigan
Michael Owen got the match winner (86) to the delight of the St James’ Park faithful and now they’ll be holding their breath in hopes he returns from the break in good shape. If he doesn’t return fully match fit after this break you’d have to wonder about his commitment.
Elsewhere on Saturday Boro shut down Steve Bruce’s Birmingham City 2-0 on goals from Wheater (11) and Downing (36) while West Ham thumped Reading 3-0 at the Madjeski with goals from Bellamy (6) and a brace from Ehterington (48 and 90) for the 2nd win on the road for the Hammers. The Royals meanwhile have dropped 2 of 3 at home in getting off to a shaky start to their sophomore campaign in the top flight and surely miss the production of Steve Sidwell (now at Chelsea).
Arsenal 3:1 Portsmouth
The Gunners thoroughly dominated Pompey at the Emirates and it started early with a 7th minute penalty from Adebayor. Fabregas dug out another from a scramble in the 34th and Rosicky drilled home the 3rd in the 58th after the Gunners were reduced to 10 men in the 50th on a straight red card shown to Senderos for a ’professional foul’. Kanu pulled one back a minute later but that was all Pompey had on the day.
Blackburn 1:0 Man City
Benni McCarthy showing he has fully recovered from his collapse on the pitch last week got the only goal of the game in the 12th minute to subdue City who has returned to planet earth after their heady start.
Saving the best for last...
Aston Villa 2:0 Chelsea
Showing why I picked them to earn a European spot this campaign Villa got one from debutant Zat Knight’s header from a Gareth Barry corner (47) and the 2nd from Agbonlahor (88) off a terrific cross from Ashley Young on a superb counter attack to settle the issue. In a scrappy and hard fought match that saw 9 yellows Villa was resilient all match absorbing the pressure without allowing many clear chances and the Blues sorely missed Lampard’s creativity and leadership in the offensive third. Despite the overwhelming advantage in possession the Blues failed to create any decisive opportunities without Lampard on the pitch. The loss prevented Chelsea from regaining the top spot in the table and snapped their unbeaten run in league play at 18 games.
