3 LFC, MUFC and AFC fans see if they can agree on 5 conclusions from the weekend’s Premier League action. Thanks to @joethewag from http://thenotsoanonymousfootballfan.wordpress.com and @SamerF89 for their contributions.
1) Everton are serious contenders for 4th place
Nadim: DISAGREE
Their squad is small and that will prove to be their undoing.
Everton are doing a Newcastle , in the sense that they’re beating the teams they should be beating at home and picking up a few points against the bigger sides along the way.
The difference, however, is that Everton are potless. While the Geordies could go out and spend 10m on Papis Cisse last January to boost their challenge, Everton can’t. They’ll have to rely their small squad all season, which means a prolonged challenge will be next to impossible.
Joe: AGREE
Very well drilled team.
They seem to have confidence in their ability as comebacks often illustrate. Moyes has been successful in rebuilding his teams after some players left for bigger things.
If only he got more investment then they would be pretty much a certainty for top 4.
Samer: AGREE
What a flying start to the season they’re having.
I have been pretty impressed with how they have approached their games recently. Moyes has done a great job.
Contenders, yes. Can they do it? We'll see. Top 7 come May for sure though.
2) Fulham are great fun to watch
Nadim: AGREE
In Berbatov and Ruiz, they have 2 of the most elegant players in the entire Premier League. Just watching them play football is as relaxing as a full body massage.
I was very impressed with them Saturday, especially with how they built from the back and were very patient on the ball. Martin Jol has done wonders for the team, taking them into the 21st century after their flings with Hodgson and Hughes.
Joe: AGREE
Very well run club.
With Berbatov at the fulcrum of their attack, a lot can go through him. No cloggers in their team and choose to play the “right way”.
Their biggest challenge will be when clubs come sniffing around their key men. Whilst they have done well since losing Dempsey and Dembele, can this go on forever?
Samer: AGREE
Martin Jol has transformed a usually typicaly English side into one worth watching.
He’s made some great signings and has a great approach which offers neutrals an entertaining brand of football.
Although they gave me a lot of heartache this weekend, they still deserve enormous praise for how they played at the Emirates. Not a lot of teams are able to come to Arsenal and do what Fulham did.
3) On the field, the 2 Manchester clubs biggest asset is their will to win
Nadim: AGREE
Absolutely.
Huge cliché, but it’s the mark of champions. Both clubs just refuse to get beaten. They’ve both gone behind numerous times this season and have almost always recovered (in City’s case, scratch the always).
United’s will to win is legendary; but it was absent last season. For City, it’s a new phenomenon; but a very welcome one. It’s what makes them both title favorites.
Joe: AGREE
Whilst they do have other assets, both clubs simply never give up and it is testament to their team morale that they can so often come from behind.
Two goals down would have been the end for most other teams but you just felt that once the 1st goal went in, more would follow for United. As for City, there was the same inevitably as Aguero’s goal went in.
Samer: AGREE
As much as it hurts, it’s true.
Both teams have that never give up, no nonsense mentality. Everything was going against them this weekend. However, once both got their first goals, you just knew they'd go on and win it.
Europe is a different story, but in the Premier League both teams just don't know when to give up
4) Mark Hughes’ time at QPR is surely up
Nadim: DISAGREE
Any other club, I’d say yes.
But Tony Fernandes has been extremely vocal about his support for Hughes. I have no idea why though as he’s doing terribly. He was lucky to keep them up last year and with the money spent in the Summer, the fact they’re bottom is ludicrous.
Don’t know how bad it will need to get for Hughes to get fired, but I doubt it’ll happen this week.
Joe: AGREE
QPR’s season could mimic that of last: new manager, and money being spent in January to battle for survival.
Mark Hughes needs to take a long look at himself as a manager. His stock has plummeted. Perhaps managing abroad for a few years could do him the world of good?
Samer: AGREE
He's one of the worst managers in the league, he shapes his teams up well, yes, but the amount of money at his disposal at both City and QPR show how much of a fraud he is.
He left Fulham to find a better job… and went to QPR. His team is performing way below expectations. With those summer signings, results are not good enough. His time at QPR is up.
5) Unless they sign a new striker in January, Chelsea won’t win the title
Nadim: AGREE
Needing a goal on Saturday, United turned to Hernandez. On Sunday, City turned to Dzeko. Later on in the afternoon, in the same situation,Chelsea subbed off their main striker for the only other striker they have in the squad.
Much has been made of Liverpool having only 2 strikers, but it’s somehow not been noticed that Chelsea are in exactly the same situation. For title challengers, that’s ridiculous- especially when you consider how out of sorts their first choice striker is and how much money they have in the bank.
Joe: DISAGREE
Fernando Torres has shown signs of life this season and Sturridge and Moses can chip in with some goals.
They don’t have a great deal of striking options but remember in 2002-03; United got by with pretty much just Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Samer: DISAGREE
Recently some teams have proven that it is possible to win trophies without having too many strikers.
Barcelona and Spain, prime examples, both use players out of position in that striker role to their own benefit.
Chelsea have an array of attacking talent at their disposal. Even if Torres isn't scoring for fun, he's still linking up with Mata, Oscar and Hazard to create chances. They have more than enough firepower to challenge.
So we manage to agree on 2 out of 5 conclusions from the weekend’s action. Thanks for reading and leave us your comments.
Disagree on point one.
Everton's squad is small and lacks quality in midfield. If they lose Jelavic or Fellaini through injury or transfer, they'll be screwed. They've also had a ridiculously easy start to the season fixture wise. No chance they finish top 4.
Agree on point two.
Berbatov and Ruiz, as mentioned, are wonderfully elegant players who make the game look effortless. Great to watch.
Agree on point three.
City will win that league, and their will to win added to the fact they have by far the best starting 11, and squad, in the league is the reason why.
Agree on point four.
He's run his race, he's failed. Harry Redknapp is cleaning the windows of his career in preparation for his first interview.
Agree on point five.
Point made about Van Nistelrooy holds not water. RVN was scoring 25 a season at the time and United had a great defence. This Chelsea team doesn't have a great defense and Nando will lucky to get 15 this season.
Point about Barca is ridiculous. They have Messi scoring 50 a season, Hazard, Mata and Oscar won't score that between them. And I'm not sure what Spain have to do with anything, winning an international tournament bares no comparison with the league title. Chelsea might win the FA Cup without another striker, but not the title.
Even if they get another striker, they won't win the title. City are two strong and have better players everywhere, and for all the hype about Mata-Oscar-Hazard, Silva-Nasri-Aguero are superior.
Posted by: Dave | 11/12/2012 at 04:37 PM
You've agreed wth me on all but the QPR one.
Like I say, any other club and I think Hughes is a goner. But the chairman has backed him on a weekly basis, he'll get a bit more time to turn it around.
Posted by: Dimmy B | 11/12/2012 at 08:52 PM
Chelsea can play Mata in front if necessary. Remember they have plenty of options on the left side with Bertrand, Marin and Moses apart from the mentioned Mata, so moving him up front wouldn't leave a "gap".
Yes, I know he plays on the right now, but I think Di Matteo should revert back to crossing in from the byline instead of moving back and crossing from the edge of the box... It seems things went south once they started doing that.
Posted by: Athox | 11/13/2012 at 02:11 AM