EPL round 7 roundup
by Paul O'Donnell
What a week in soccer huh? After all the high minded rhetoric just before the Champions League Matchday 1 games kicked off some of those dreamers with stars in their eyes have been returned dramatically to good old mother earth.
Jose quits Chelsea after a horrid effort in the Champions League against Rosenborg ended in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Benitez and the Reds found it tough going in Portugal on a boggy pitch that appeared to have been laid just yesterday. Huge chunks peeled up readily and it’s surprising someone wasn’t hurt because of the poor pitch under foot. Blackburn gets their heads handed to them in Ukraine in UEFA Cup in a desultory 2-0 loss to Larissa while Arsenal goes on a rampage and Tottenham romps. Everton watches AJ, who hasn’t scored since March, score twice but both were disallowed. On top of that he also missed from the spot twice. To be fair, he nailed the first one but was forced to do a retake due to encroachment and the retake was saved. Then, on the 2nd he drilled it high over the bar on what would have been the late match winner. But that was only part of the story.
At this stage of both the EPL season and the various cup competitions the really meaningful action was on the other side of the world in the Women’s World Cup with the quarterfinals this weekend. USA produced a much better performance and defeated England 3-0 in one match on Saturday while defending champion Germany defeated a game N. Korea 3-0 to advance to the midweek semifinals. In Sunday’s games host China lost to Norway 1-0 and Brazil beat Australia 3-2. Team USA will face Brazil and Germany goes up against Norway in the other semi.
Speaking of kicking a ball how’d it go in the EPL then?
Arsenal 5:0 Derby
The Gunners whacked Derby County with a hat trick from Adebayor, and single goals from Fabregas and Diaby to hold top spot in the table. It was an awesome display from beginning to end by Arsenal as much as it pains me to say that.
Liverpool 0:0 Birmingham
The Reds drop another two points with a lackluster draw in front of the home fans. Anfield is not the fortress it was last season that had Liverpool basically counting the full points before the game even began. The draw at home to a depleted Chelsea was bad enough but this was to a team that may not be strong enough to survive a relegation fight. If these Reds really are serious about actually winning the EPL title these are the matches they simply must win the full points. Otherwise they haven’t a chance. Many would say (count me in) that Rafa’s rotation policy is proving to be a loser as Liverpool have now dropped six points with three consecutive draws. As I said after the last round to really challenge for the title in the EPL you simply must play the best 11 available or you pay the piper. Rafa is paying and the price will be another season with no title for Liverpool.
M’Boro 2:2 Sunderland
Roy Keane’s Black Cats got goals in the first (Leadbitter, 1) and last minute (Miller, 88) to win a point after conceding to Boro’s Arca (14) and Downing (66). Dropping 2 points late like this won’t help fill those empty seats at the Riverside.
Reading 2:1 Wigan
The Royals rocked the Madjeski with a late winner from Harper (89) to win a much needed 3 points and stop their slide. Kitson’s strike gave them the advantage in the 28th before Wigan drew level via Bent (48).
Fulham 3:3 Man City
Simon Davies put Fulham ahead in the 12th minute at the Cottage but Sven’s boys got the match level in the 36th via Martin Petrov (his first for City). Fulham went back on top on a brilliant strike from Bouazza (47) only to see the lead disappear two minutes later via Mpenza off a rebound of a Petrov shot. Ten minutes later Petrov (59) hit the net again off a very nicely executed give and go and a blistering drive to the near post for a 3-2 lead for City. Danny Murphy got his first for Fulham in the 74th to level matters once again. As entertaining as the match was for the fans and viewers around the world the beat goes on for the Cottagers: they can’t hold a lead and haven’t recorded a clean sheet in what seems like forever. Sending their young manager packing (Chris Coleman) surely hasn’t changed that one bit.
Newcastle 3:1 West Ham
Big Sam has to feel good about the win but he’s again worried with Owen headed for another scan. Viduka’s brace (2 & 40) and one from N’Zogbia in the 75th was more than enough as the Hammers managed only the one from Dean Ashton (31).
Aston Villa 2:0 Everton
Villa subdued the Toffees on a 13th minute Carew strike and another from Agbonlahor in the 59th ended any hope for Everton as a difficult week for Noyes comes to a close. The Villains may have lost Carew for a few weeks as well as he limped off the pitch. Marlon Harewood caused a dustup at the death when Agbonlahor refused to put the ball in space for him to slot home as they caught the Toffees on a breakaway just before the final whistle. What will O’Neill do with these two?
Blackburn 0:1 Portsmouth
Rovers nightmare week ends with a drab loss at home to Pompey on a Kanu strike in the 24th.
Bolton 1:1 Tottenham
Robbie Keane got Spurs in front in the 33rd only to see Ivan Campo level the score five minutes later. One point at a time won’t sooth the rough spots for Jol but on the bright side they held the score for an hour which is far better than they’ve done of late.
Man United 2:0 Chelsea
Fitting that the only true ’big one’ of the weekend caps the action. Will Grant find glory in his first attempt on the touchline for Chelsea?
The answer is no way, not at Old Trafford that’s for sure. Chelsea’s Mikel was shown red for a two-footed tackle in the 30th minute and United finally was able to take advantage of the extra man in the 4th minute of the advertised 2 minutes of extra time on a goal from Carlos Tevez. Saha cashed in a penalty in the 89th after his glorious flop was rewarded. At Old Trafford even a 2nd rate acting job earns the PK for United. Both managers were squawking about the referee and calls made and not made after the match but that is true to form for competitive games at Old Trafford where it is always advantage Sir Alex and the boys, deserved or not.
For a visiting team the only way to get justice at Old Trafford would be to hide the whistle. That’s not sour grapes it’s just the way it is and has been for decades and the Premier League refuses to fix it. The on field officials are often intimidated by the 70,000 fans and the stinging tongue of Sir Alex more than they are the league leadership and the hallowed ’Laws of the Game’ so the blatant bad calls reinforce the legend of the ’field of dreams’. When a match is being played at Old Trafford there seems to be an unwritten ’law of the game’ that thou shalt not penalize United and when possible you must reward them.
Avram Grant and Chelsea were just the latest victim.
