Real Madrid the Real Deal

 92 minutes into this match and La Decima was still just a dream. Then the man who has been scoring goals at will, no not Christiano Ronaldo, but Sergio Ramos planted a trade mark header into the bottom corner to tie the match up at 1 apiece.  Up until that point Real had pushed and pushed but couldn’t seem to crack the stubborn defence set up by Atletico Madrid. This was their first final in about 40 years or so and they weren’t going to give this match up without a fight. However after they conceded the equalizer there was only going to be one winner.

Así se vivió el mítico gol de Ramos en el Hotel Four Seasons de Arabia Saudí: http://t.co/WlFRYWDhPl #ReyesDeEuropa pic.twitter.com/pzruigb2lN

— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) May 26, 2014

The game had started semi pear shaped for the underdogs as their marquee man Diego Costa went off with a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury. Obviously the horse placenta treatment he was getting to heal that hammy didn’t do the drink. I’ve learnt from my time on the TAB you can never trust a horse. Without their main strike weapon many would’ve thought this match was well and truly over, but Atletico definitely disagreed with that. Gareth Bale missed what some would say was a sitter after not giving the ball to Ronaldo on his right. In fact he left me screaming at the TV because I wanted my boy Ronaldo on the scorecard. Because of his greediness, god wasn’t happy and therefore punished the Welshman. Atletico bounded down field, earned themselves a corner and subsequently got a bumbling goal over the line after a mistake from St Iker. There was one hell of a buzz in the stadium when that goal went in. The game was finally taking shape and if Real were to win their 10th Champions League trophy.

Into the second half we went and even I was starting to get just a tad worried for my Real Madrid fellas. They weren’t creating as many clear opportunities as they should’ve been and boy was there some frustration. Just give Cristiano the damn ball!! But in all honesty the man making waves was Angel Di Maria for Madrid. He was in everything and was a right nuisance most of the time. A few long range efforts and the odd classy passage of play was all Real Madrid could muster together. I really thought Atleti were going to hold on and defeat their cross town rivals. They seemed solid on attack and under not much pressure at the back. Maybe this was their time...

VÍDEO - Real Madrid, Campeones de la UEFA Champions League 2014 http://t.co/9Lidp09WdH #ReyesDeEurope #Halamadrid #UCLFinal

— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) May 25, 2014

However as we all know Ramos came and broke their hearts when the Trophy was just about to be engraved. Extra time was a non-affair with Real Madrid bossing the whole 30 minutes as Atleti were just left out on their feet, struggling for air, and survival. Once lord Bale grabbed his 100million euro goal, there was only one thing left to do. Get the home town hero on the board. And that they did. With not long to go, Cristiano took matters into his own hands and won himself a penalty because everyone else was just being selfish. He took the ball, marched to the spot and coolly drilled it into the bottom corner. Cue shirt off, and screams everywhere. Ronaldo sealed the deal and Real had finally won that elusive trophy that had kept them waiting for 12 years.

All in all the big guns didn’t really turn up on the day, the likes of Costa, Bale and Ronaldo, however they did so much for their teams leading up to the match, that they can be forgiven. In the end the best team in the competition probably did win, but you couldn’t help but feel for the Atleti lads. Their coach tried to take the result into his own hands by going after a Real defender after the final whistle, but that showed more intensity and passion then his side could muster in Extra time. For both these sides it has been a tremendous year, and for Real Madrid a year in which they have etched themselves in Football folklore.

The False 9 with Senor Spectre

Image: The Sun+

So I was going to entertain the fanatics about the top transfer that every team in the EPL needs. A striker like Diego Costa for Arsenal or a defensive midfielder such as Xabi Alonso for Manchester United. But then I got to Manchester City and I was actually stumped on what this dynamic all round team actually need! I can hear you screaming get off the nut from here, but I have been questioning them all season and they have kept proving me wrong. I started on the front and thought another striker to give them a new dimension maybe? Then I remember this is the team that has scored over 100, yes 100 goals this season and their main talisman, Sergio Aguero, has been out for the last month. The likes of Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko have taken over the reins and have been a big part of the reason why City have run over teams at home and now, after dispatching Spurs 5-1, away from home too. So I thought the midfield could do with some sprucing up, like United’s or Newcastle. Oh wait. David Silva, arguably one of the craftiest players in the league. Yaya Toure, hands down best box to box midfielder in the league combining both the guile of a fox and the strength of a horse. Then there’s Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas who both thrive on pace, flair and their ability to beat players one on one and in tight situations. Oh did I mention James Milner, Fernandinho, Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia???

 I’m starting to think they probably don’t need any midfield reinforcements. To the back we go. Pablo Zabaleta is the most consistent right back in the league. No debate there. He oozes professionalism and never seems to put in a bad performance. Considering Micah Richards, the young English prodigy, has been injured all season, he has done remarkably well. Gael Clichy on the other side (another ex-Arsenal player) is getting on in years but still provides opposition managers with nervous moments as he marauds down the flanks, even though he does struggle to get back at times. Don’t worry though, Aleksandar ‘the king’ Kolarov from Serbia is an able back up with a rocket of a left foot if I’ve ever seen one. In the middle of defence you can’t go past captain fantastic Vincent Kompany. Throwing his body into shots and winning 99% of headers is all in a day’s work for the Belgium rep, who has provided defensive steel and passion that his side has lacked in years gone by. He leads from the back superbly and is the most vocal player on the park, barking orders and letting team mates know when something isn’t up to scratch. Now his partner in the middle is the only small weak link I can see. Martin Demichelis has filled in admirably, but if I was a City fan, I would get nervous anytime he gets near the ball. They do have Natija Nastasic and Joleon ‘The Forehead’ Lescott but they have not been played as regularly. Joe Hart is the last piece of this quite amazing puzzle (nearly Wasgij amazing). After a blip mid season where he was dropped from the first team, he has come back superbly becoming one of the top keepers in the league once again. Who was calling for him to be loaned out a month ago?!

Some people wonder why so called ‘pundits’ have already given the title to City, but if you look at this squad you can understand why. Most, if not all of these players, would make the starting line up of any other team in the league. God half their subs would easily get a gig as well. I hear the critics yelling ‘a team of individuals, will never beat an individual team’ but Manuel Pellegrini has nurtured this team into playing for each other and not just themselves. I would be downright surprised if they don’t win the league and for all to see, it is theirs to lose. Complacency or boredom, depending on how you look at it, is maybe the only reason this team drops any more points this season. I hope they do choke, because it would make me very happy, however if you can’t stop them from scoring, then good luck beating them. The ebb and flow is truly great to watch, and you’d have to be one sour football fan, or a United lover not to agree.

Newcastle vs Sunderland

Newcastle are looking to bounce back with a win after a tough week (Getty Images)

The Tyne-Wear derby. Two cities separated by 10 miles and boy do they hate each other. The Toon vs the Black Cats. Generally these matches are cagey affairs with players feeling the pressure of a tight rivalry that has been simmering between households and friends for over a century. The stats for overall results are delicately poised with Newcastle winning 53 times and Sunderland 45, with another 45 draws in between. Nothing beats a derby. We saw the Liverpool v Everton in a Merseyside derby blowout which was a bit of a bummer for us neutrals who wanted to see a high scoring draw with a bit of passion and guts. Aston Villa and West Brom played in the West Midlands derby and played out a stunning 4-3 contest that started at a rapid pace, having 6 goals by halftime! So what can Newcastle and Sunderland produce!? The Toon has lost Johan Cabaye to PSG this week and he has been their midfield general. Knowing the manager (not personally unfortunately) Alan Pardew, he would have seen this coming for months and should have contingency plans in place.

They have a strong enough midfield to deny the likes of Adam Johnson and Jack Colback time and space, but do they have the creative maestro to fill the gap Cabaye left? Without him there they may struggle to unlock a Sunderland team on the rise after a sound 1-0 win over Stoke midweek. Loic Remy has been their go to man up front, but has looked fatigued in recent games having carried the team all season. The likes of the Ameobi brothers should be itching to get on the park and prove their worth in a game of huge magnitude. Sunderland rolls down the highway with 7 points from a possible 9 in the last 3 weeks and are slowly but surely pushing themselves out of relegation. In these big games, I’m a firm believer that recent form, whether shit hot or appalling, will count for nothing. Sure you might feel more confident, but once you are in that cauldron it is a whole different story. St James’ Park used to be feared by everyone and especially you’re cross town rivals. Newcastle needs to get that feeling back into the support if they want to take away 3 crucial points after a tough week.
Prediction
Surely Newcastle will win it being at home and playing a team over 7 places below them? You’d think so. I reckon they’ll go out there and try prove to the critics that losing Cabaye isn’t the end of the world and that they are still a European contender. Sunderland have had a glorious 3 weeks including the Mickey mouse cup semi over United, but a derby victory would feel like icing on the cake. Unfortunately I don’t see it happening. Newcastle 2-1.

Manchester City vs Chelsea

What do you do if you have heaps of money and don’t know what to do with it? Buy a new car, grab yourself a yacht, maybe take a trip overseas and treat the whanau. Not these guys. They buy football clubs. Meet Roman Abramovich and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Jesus thats a mouthful, get Siri to say that one! Both owners pour millions of dollars into these clubs, hoping for the satisfaction of owning a team that can win trophies and give bragging rights to those involved. With so much to spend (sanctioned by the owner), you cannot help but be impressed by the make-up of these squads. Chelsea’s measly defence against the pure attacking talent of the Man City midfielders and front men. Let the fun begin. Considering Chelsea blasted a ridiculous 39 shots at West Ham midweek and they still couldn’t buy a goal, it makes me wonder if that could be their downfall in this matchup. Scoring goals is obviously crucial. They are not going to get many opportunities against City and considering City score an average nearing 3 goals a game, they may need a few to stay in this match. If the midfield of Oscar and Edin Hazard can create opportunities and get on the end of some attacking plays as well, then they could score a goal early on and then park the bus. Mr Mourinho hates when others do it, but doesn’t mind when his own team does it to sound affect. A la Barcelona CL Semi final in 2012. The old guard of John Terry and Gary Cahill will have their work cut out for them even though Sergio Aguero is most likely going to be out with a hamstring complaint. Looking at the options I’ve stated above, City still has plenty of strike power. A bloody scary amount of strike power. If they can keep Chelsea to a goal, I can see them running away in this fixture based on attacking potential alone. If I was Chelsea I would be hoping Mourinho has planned a tactical masterpiece to outclass the new league frontrunners, or this could turn ugly like many other matches that have been played at the Eithad. A slippery surface will help the Blues, and even a bit of rain/sleet/snow, so start praying you Chelsea fans!
Prediction
With City finally moving to the top of the table, will they ever be usurped?? These games can be won on the smallest error or more often than not on a piece of individual brilliance. If we’re going on that, then how can you go past City? City 3-1.

The Rest:

West Ham vs Swansea - Draw

Cardiff City vs Norwich - Cardiff

Everton vs Aston Villa - Everton

Fulham vs Southampton - Draw

Hull City vs Tottenham - Tottenham

Stoke City vs Manchester United - Draw

West Brom vs Liverpool - Liverpool

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace - Arsenal

The False 9 with Senor Spectre

The False 9

This week Christiano Ronaldo was announced player of the year at the Ballon d’or and boy did he deserve it. This guy seriously carries his team on his back whether it’s for country or club. The World cup playoff match against Sweden could have been an absolute disaster for Ronaldo. Imagine no Ronaldo at arguably sporting biggest event? That would have been one of the biggest body blows to the event and even more so to his legacy that he will one day leave behind in the beautiful game. Instead he did what he has done for years. Single handily he destroyed the Swedes scoring all 4 goals across the tie and without doubt, out-duelled Zlatan Ibrahimovich in their much publicised ‘battle of the gods’. The pressure he was under was immense and he calmly put it all behind him and put on a super human display. This to me showed all the characteristics of a legend.

I AM THE MAN

Players have the odd game like Ronaldo throughout their career, but the definition of the very best is someone who can do it when the chips are down and everyone is watching. He does that week in and week out. Seriously the guys a freak and anyone who says he doesn’t deserve it can just look at his amazing record from throughout the year. Whether it is in the Champions League for Madrid or in the spotlight of carrying his national team on his back, this guy has some serious ticker. These days in sports we are quick to forget great feats that athletes have put on show at any one time in their career, however we are even quicker to remind athletes on a regular basis if they have ‘chocked’ or have had a couple of bad performances. Salute the man. He has just won one of the most prestigious awards in world sport. We must celebrate the successes of these individuals regardless of past misdemeanours. He will sleep peacefully knowing no one can take the the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’or award away from him.

Chelsea vs Manchester United

After beating Hull convincingly last week and no midweek fixtures to disrupt their preparation, Chelsea head in to this grudge match full of confidence.5 wins in their last 6 games has them pushing Arsenal for top of the league amid their constant fight for EPL glory. Chelsea have managed this run of winning games on the back of a much more disciplined defence shown by 4 clean sheets recently in the league. Although there have been some changes in their defensive line up, the stalwart pairing of Gray Cahill and John Terry are the experienced duo keeping the team together. They may not be the fastest defenders but they make up for it in their positioning, and at times in their aerial threats from corners. The Blues definitely throw their bodies around the most out of any team and are not surprisingly leading the lead in blocks. They will once again need to be committed to the cause, as young guns Danny Welbeck and Adnan Januzaj will be trying their best to make the old legs of the Chelsea defence do some long yards. If they can keep a clean sheet you can be sure that the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar will have more than fair share of chances to give Chelsea the 3 points.

Ooooh Shinji Kagaaawaaaa

Manchester United finally shook off their losing run by beating Swansea at the Theatre of Dreams. This would have taken a hell of a lot of pressure off both David Moyes and the team, who have been copping it over the last month.This will be a stern test for the Red army though as they haven’t beaten the Blues since back in 2012, which was a fair while ago! In saying that it could be what United need. A game where they are not expected to win and thus all the pressure will be off the away side and put on the shoulders of the in form home team. The midfield battle will be crucial for United, so the likes of Tom Cleverly and Darren Fletcher will have to be on song in tracking the midfield runners that love to get forward for the Blues. I would love to see Shinji Kagawa stay in the number 10 role as I still believe he has a lot to offer, even though he has shown little in the way of form so far this season. His ability to pick a pass going forwards is crucial for their attack to flow and it all can’t be put on young Januzaj’s 18 year old shoulders.

The Deciding Factor

Can the young strike force of the Red army brake down the old guard of the Blue brigade? Whoever wins that battle will take out the match in my opinion.

Prediction

At Stamford Bridge I can’t see Chelsea giving up anything cheap in this match and we all know Chelsea love to get the goods over United. Chelsea 2-0.

Further Predictions

Sunderland vs Southampton –Draw
Arsenal vs Fulham – Arsenal
Crystal Palace vs Stoke City – Draw
Man City vs Cardiff City – Man City
Norwich vs Hull City – Norwich
West Ham vs Newcastle – Newcastle
Livepool vs Aston Villa – Liverpool
Swansea vs Tottenham – Draw
West Brom vs Everton – West Brom

The False 9 with Senor Spectre

The False 9

After indulging in far too much Christmas food and enjoying the festivities that only New Years can bring, I feel some footballing thoughts/banter need to be shared once again. Has a lot changed in the last fortnight? Man United are still taking two steps forward and one step back, Arsenal are still managing to somehow fight off the big money movers in Chelsea and Manchester City while Sunderland and Crystal Palace are still shortening as favourites to be relegated this season. In saying all that the last two weeks has bought to us a buffet of football and there has been a number of upsets and games which have given purists great delight. Liverpool’s 5-0 thumping of Tottenham straight away springs to mind with the quality of goals on show second to none. With so many games being played throughout the league and various cups, there has also been a number of high profile injuries. Manchester striking duo of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have only played a hand full of games together this season, with last year’s golden boot winner, Van Persie, struggling the most, only playing 11 games in the league and the majority of those being only half fit.

Arsenal young gun Serge Gnarby

The same can be said of the Christmas toll on Arsenal, with Oliver Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil missing multiple games throughout the period. The biggest loss has however been Theo Walcott who is out for the season with a ruptured ACL. This robs the Gunners of that sheer pace that in some games is the key to unlocking teams that ‘park the bus’. Luckily for them, young gun Serge Gnabry is looking like he belongs in the first team, belaying his meagre 18 years of age. On top of this Alex Oxlade-Chamberlein is back from a long term knee injury, so all is not so bad for Arsenal. They will still however be looking to dip in to the winter transfer window to bolster their frontline, like a number of other teams. United will also once again be on the lookout for a maestro to bolster their midfield which has been overrun too many times this season. It is usually seen as a desperate time for teams to buy players, but there are the odd bargain buys that teams do come across. Prices are generally inflated given how desperate teams are, but for some, the extra cost of these players can lead to greater advantages in the future. The next few weeks can prove vital to a team’s survival in the league or for their quest of EPL glory come May. Let’s hope there are a few more stars coming across to the EPL for us to enjoy.

Manchester United vs Swansea

This match has taken on extra significance given United have lost 3 on the bounce including their FA cup 3rd round tie against Swansea, who are coincidently coming back to town. When was the last time anyone had heard of United losing 3 in a row?? It is credit to their history that we are so surprised by these results, with Sir Alex Ferguson moulding sides that challenged on all fronts and rarely went through any rebuilding phases. With David Moyes going through 6 months of hell so far, the fans have had his back, but they are starting to turn. They are not used to these results and Moyes really has to start turning things round. With Robin Van Persie still out, they are without their talisman and top goal scorer. United will be praying Wayne Rooney is fit otherwise Danny Welbeck will once again have to shoulder the attacking mantle of the side. With the busy Christmas period over, all teams are counting the costs of injuries and United have had their fair share. It is time the players stand up and play with a bit of pride. As an Arsenal fan it can be taken as condescending, however Moyes is copping more than his fair share and it would be great to see some hunger and desire in the Theatre of Dreams this weekend.

Wilfried Bony

Swansea sits 4 points outside the relegation zone even though many would not even consider them as relegation strugglers. Ever since their FA cup trophy last season the extra games in the Europa League seem to be more of a hindrance to them more than anything else. Their league form has been poor, yet they still manage to produce quality football which other teams only wish they can play. With Miguel Michu out indefinitely, they have lost their top goal scorer from the last campaign, but have found a lively replacement in Wilfried Bony. 2 goals in his last league match against Manchester City and the winner midweek against United show he is in good form against the mancunians. He is likely to have to play the 90 minutes again this weekend, but his link up play with the midfield has provided Swansea with the ability to keep the ball in the final 3rd and play long ball when needed. His ability to shoot from range has defences constantly worrying about him and have to put him under greater duress than what they would like.

The Deciding Factor

An early goal will be crucial in this game. If United don’t score early, the fans will quickly start to show their frustrations as it has been building gradually over the last fortnight. A home atmosphere that is uncomfortable for the home side will put them under added pressure and will spur on the Swansea side to put another nail in Moyes’ coffin.

Prediction

I’m sure United will come out with some sheer determination to put the doubters to rest. I can see things clicking for once. United 3-0.

Newcastle vs Manchester City

After an adequate month of December, Newcastle has gone luke warm over the last fortnight with successive losses against Arsenal, West Brom and then Cardiff City in the FA cup. They will be ruing missed opportunities as the cup competitions in particular have been targeted over the last 12 months and after taking the lead at home, should never have been knocked out by Cardiff. Their drop in form has coincided with the cold streak of their iconic goal scorer Loic Remy. After scoring 10 goals in the League so far this season, he has gone missing in the last 3 matches (although he was a sub midweek) and hasn’t got himself onto the score sheet. Obviously you can’t expect your top striker to run hot the whole season, so others around him must step up and fill the goal chart. Papiss Demba Cisse scored in the Cup but he has left the club wanting so far this season, so the backup striker should be working hard to provide a greater threat for the club in the coming weeks. Against City every opportunity will need to be capitalised on because there may only be a few. St James’ Park should be buzzing with the Leagues form team coming to town.

Papiss Cisse

Man City have now won 5 league games on the bounce and strolled through their midweek League Cup match with West Ham, winning 6-0 and making it look like child’s play. There are still rather large question marks over their away form and this will be a good test for them at St James’ Park. Having lost Sergio Aguero over a month ago, there were doubts over City’s ability to score so many goals without the Argentine, however in Alvaro Negredo they have unleashed the beast, as he is known, and he has ably substituted for Aguero, including a stunning hat trick against West Ham in the League Cup. With the likes of Jesus Navas and Fernandinho starting to find their feet in the EPL after coming from foreign leagues, this side is starting to purr. They can attack from all areas and with Vincent Kompany back, they have a defensive leader who is able to organise and lead the troops around. Newcastle will realise that any mistakes they make this week could mean the dropping of 2 or 3 points.

The Deciding Factor

Can Newcastle awaken the away demons the City lads have been facing? If they can keep it close till after half time they have the chance to cause an upset. However if Negredo gets his way, this match could be over relatively quickly as a contest.

Prediction

As much as I love the way City have been playing and smashing teams on the fly, i’m still concerned with their away form. Until I see them play consistent football away, i’m going to sit on the fence in this one. 2-2 Draw.

The False 9

The False 9

The managerial merry-go-round has another headline! After Paolo di Canio, Martin Jol and Steve Clarke, Andre Villa Boas (AVB) has now joined the infamous list of the 2013-14 season.  I guess the story on everyone’s lips is did the Spurs manager deserve to get the flick with the busiest period of the year kicking into full swing. Personally as an Arsenal fan it is great to see the other side of London struggling, but I can’t help but feel just a touch sorry for AVB. Last year Spurs tallied 72 points during the season and still missed out on a Champions League (CL) berth. Any other year, they would have made it. Imagine that. AVB did everything he could, plus more, but still couldn’t push down the invisible gate leading to the ballpark of football giants. This disappointment had a domino effect. Gareth Bale soon jumped ship as there was no CL football on the horizon for him and this led to Spurs spending over 100 million Euros on European stars from a variety of leagues. Think about it. A couple more points and a bit of luck here or there and AVB could have been settled into his tenure, been playing midweek CL football and still have the services of one of the world’s best players in Bale. How he wishes he could turn back the clock... But that’s life! He had access to funds to build the team he wanted and they just haven’t gelled. Has he lost the respect of the players? Did he ever have their respect? AVB built a side last year that were fearless and at one point were talked about as title contenders. He must have been doing something right. He built his team on being clinical and utilising the strengths of the team, mainly giving Bale the ball! However this season five new attacking talents couldn’t collate to the quality of one individual star.

In light of everything you’ve just read, does he deserve to go? They are only sitting 2 wins outside the top 4 and until their shellacking by the Reds they had won 3 games on the bounce and started looking like they were starting to find some form. Some will say this was one blip too many. I don’t think it warranted being sacked though. Losing 5-0 or 2-1, you still get the same amount of points and a loss is a loss. Sure he may have abused the fans and had a crack at the media, but most of his points were true! Have the home fans created a foul mood at White Hart Lane? Yes. Has the media been untoward in their assessment. I think so. He didn’t go the right way about publicising this, but that’s beside the point. Who are they going to bring in of better quality? No one. Good luck sitting on an interim manager for the time being, as the fixtures stack up considerably over Christmas. A bit of stability would’ve been no harm, plus it would give the side more time to change their ways without worrying about how the new manager will want to play. AVB will be keen to flee the country as soon as he can, but I hope it is more a case of ‘see you again soon’ rather than ‘go and never come back’.

Man United vs West Ham

With Robin Van Persie out for a month, the focus is on Danny Welbeck to fill the void left by the Dutch number 9. He started with aplomb last week scoring two goals and providing the side with critical link up play when needed. This was a crucial league win for David Moyes’ men and allows them to focus on what lies ahead rather than dwelling on the lows of the last month. With a struggling West Ham coming to town, the Red Devils should feel confident in registering back to back wins, especially against a side that has scored once in their last 3 games. With Winston Reid still out, look for United to string together another crucial 3 points as they look to fight their way out of the mid table maze.

Time for Danny Wellbeck to step up

Sunderland vs Norwich:

Have Sunderland turned the corner on their season with a League cup win over Chelsea?! I thoroughly hope so. After sacking one manager already this season, the side finally have something to build on and assist them in attempting to move out of the bottom 3. Their 2 scorers were loan signings, however this team is starting to show some ticker. Whether that will be enough to see them pocketing the 3 points, we shall soon see. Norwich have been up and down all year long and that’s why they find themselves sitting in the bottom half of the table. I expected Norwich to kick on from their 11th place last year, but they are struggling to find their feet. In Chris Hughton they have a fantastic manager and surely the gears will start clicking through the motions in the next month. Sunderland will be running on adrenaline after the win over Chelsea and I can definitely see them riding the wave of optimism to the 3 points this weekend.

Southampton vs Tottenham

This is just as big a match for the Saints as it is for Tottenham. With only 2 points taken from a possible 15 in their last 5 games, the honeymoon period is well and truly over for the Saints. Pochettino’s men need to start stringing together the type of football they were producing at the start of the year, which saw them playing up tempo football with a high pressing game that gave the opposition no time on the ball! Get back to defence first and attack second and I think they will be just fine. However a team coming off having their manager sacked are usually very dangerous and can be out to prove a point. With interim manager Tim Sherwood wanting to stake his claim for the coverted hot seat as well, Spurs could potentially have a fire within them. In saying that, I can’t see the Saints letting up on Spurs especially at home. Considering Spurs have a League cup game today too, it’s not looking in their favour at all.

Arsenal vs Chelsea

The biggie! Chelsea have failed to grasp the definition of consistency and once again they lead into a big game after a shock loss. Defeat to Sunderland in the League cup this week has left many supporters for the first time starting to doubt ‘The Chosen One’, Jose Mourinho. They are leaking goals too easily and failing to score the gimmies that you’d expect from this outfit. The one thing in their favour is usually after a loss they come back hot! Arsenal had a mare of a week dropping games against City and Napoli, as well as a draw with Everton. I personally see it as a good thing, because you’re going to go through tough patches and we will see what the Arsenal character is like when they like up on Christmas eve (NZ time).  With a good 8 day break in between games, Arsenal should have no excuses going into this one! My money is on an Arsenal home win, with Walcott starring for the Gunners as he continues his return from injury!

Further Predictions

Liverpool vs Cardiff – Liverpool
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle – Draw
Fulham vs Man City – Draw
Stoke City vs Aston Villa – Stoke
West Brow vs Hull City – West Brom
Swansea vs Everton - Draw

The False 9 with Senor Spectre

The False 9

Cheers Barca - Gerar Deulofeu

It’s funny how a team’s identity can change so rapidly from one season to another. Whether it’s a new signing that lifts a club or the signing of a new manager who brings in new ideas (for better or for worse), a whole teams philosophies can be turned completely upside down. The best example of this is the new sparkle that Roberto Martinez is putting into a talented Everton side. Under David Moyes, Everton always punched above their weight and they always troubled the top sides with their tenacious hustle and sheer philosophy of ‘the harder you work, the luckier you’ll get’. You have to give credit to Moyes for that. However Martinez has bought something a bit different to Goodison Park. This team plays with a hell of a lot more attacking vigour! From a team that sat back and used to try hit teams late, Everton now play an entertaining brand of footy that has them still surprising all the big teams. With the likes of Ross Barkley, Seamus Coleman and Gerard Deulofeu, this young brigade are playing with a sense of fearlessness that hasn’t been seen from the Toffees in many years, although whether they have the stamina and mental strength to push for a CL spot come May, could be a touch too far. Everton fans were treated to a side who put in 110% every match in the last few years, however having a side with first thoughts to attack, is something completely new and puts Everton in a new and exciting era with Martinez. If I was an Everton fan I would be feeling pretty happy with the way in which the team is heading under new management. Unfortunately with both Deulofeu and Lukaku only on loan for the season from Barcelona and Chelsea respectively, if they do go on to higher honours, next season they may have to rebuild again to fill their gaps. However Martinez has always been shrewd with his loan signings after experiences with Wigan and could come up trumps like he did this year. It’s not easy taking over a new team and installing a philosophy that the whole team buys into. So far it looks like Martinez is doing it, and doing it well.

Manchester City vs Arsenal

5 points clear and riding a wave of optimism, the Gunners will be looking to put more space between them and the pack. After only taking a point at home against Everton and having to travel to Italy midweek for CL football, this is going to be the sternest test they have faced this year. Worryingly they looked a tad fatigued on the weekend and three days rest isn't a lot when you're facing a team who have scored 16 goals in their last three home games and are coming off beating the defending CL champs in their own back yard. I can’t deny feeling slightly nervous about this game, as a Gunner fanatic. With Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Mikel Arteta having played most of the games, the likes of Theo Walcott, Thomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini become vital in providing the star quality when those players go through their slumps. Considering Ramsey’s start to the season, I think he can be cut some slack. The pressure may be off Arsenal as they are not expected to win this encounter, however a point or 3 here would be critical to keeping the big spenders away. With Szczesny in career best form, he will be well aware that he will have to be at his best to stop the form strike combination of  Sergio Aguero and Negredo. He will be hoping he is given adequate protection from his back 4, which has been very consistent lately, and keep City quiet for the majority of the match. This without doubt is not a task any defender would like to be in, considering City’s form at the Etihad recently.

Sergio Aguero continues to ooze class

City held on for a draw with Southampton on the weekend in a match that had a bit of everything. Back at home City will feel they have the capacity to blow Arsenal away. Their high pressing game will cause Arsenal problems, but they have to ensure they don't concede the soft goals they have of late. You can’t ask for much better preparation for this match, than beating Bayern Munich in Germany this week. The confidence gained from that worries me, as the last time a team did that they went on a streak of 28 points from a possible 30 in the league to finish the season. That side was coincidentally Arsenal last season. If City can perform a streak like that post Germany, they will be more than happy. The key is the performance of their wingers in my eyes. Ex-Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri is in his best spell of form since leaving the Emirates and should worry Carl Jenkinson down Arsenal’s left side all game. Exploiting this weakest link in an otherwise settled back 4, will give City a major advantage. With Navas, Milner or Silva on the other side, any one of those 3 can prove difficult to handle and thus both wing backs will need to be on song. It will be interesting to see if City decides to play David Silva twice in a week after just returning from injury, or play James Milner to combat Kieran Gibbs' marauding runs from left back. With Aguero and Negredo up front, if half chances come along, they have enough quality to put Arsenal to the sword. A more expansive approach at home could be what is called for. Those who never try, will never get.

The Deciding Factor
Down the flanks. Nasri or Walcott. I believe whoever has a more positive influence on the game, will lead their side to a much needed 3 points.

Prediction:
Sadly i’m going with my head not my heart. The fatigue factor will be too much for Arsenal. City 2-1.

Tottenham vs Liverpool

Back to back hard fought wins from Spurs have suddenly released the pressure on under siege boss Andre Villas Boas. The way in which they have ground out the results was the perfect antidote to being flogged 6 zip a fortnight ago by a rampant City side at the Etihad. This resilience is exactly what AVB wanted to see and for the first time may be feeling a little more rosy about life this season. Am I saying that all their problems are solved? Not at all. They still aren’t playing the fluent, attacking football they would like, but grinding out results when not playing well is a trademark of past champions. I believe AVB is starting to understand his players more, after months tinkering with his side, especially in the midfield area. With a more settled line-up, playing the way he wants, I’m sure Spurs will keep steadily improving. Though you’d hope so after spending 100 million in the transfer window! This team was never going to gel straight away, however being in 6th place after only scoring 15 goals in 15 games, is pretty impressive. I wouldn’t count Spurs out just yet, the title may be out of their reach, but that doesn’t mean they can’t put a cat amongst the pigeons later on in the season. They will hope that starts at home against Liverpool this weekend.

Two words. Luis Suarez. My goodness what a fortnight. Seriously all I can think about was that performance against Norwich where (like I pointed out could happen) he single handily pulled off one of the greatest performances in EPL history. All 4 goals oozed nothing but class. I haven’t been that excited to see a four goal haul since Arsenal’s Russian maestro, Andre Arshavin, shelved 4 against Liverpool in the 4 all thriller. I don’t think there is much more to say about Liverpool. If Suarez plays too his potential, then Spurs have no chance of stopping the Reds this weekend. Full stop. If he has a sub par game, the likes of Victor Moses and Coutinho, who have looked better in recent weeks, will need to come to the party and pull them through. Missing Steven Gerrard (hamstring strain) will be a massive loss with his leadership and improving form in the last month, but gives a chance to the likes of Jordan Henderson and Lucas to put their hand up and show Brendan Rodgers what they are made of. With positive results being accumulated since being beaten by Arsenal, the scalp of Spurs will add to their London collection and quite potentially throw them back in to the title race, depending on Arsenal’s result with City.

The Deciding Factor:
I’ve said it once and I will say it again. Luis Suarez. Stop Suarez and Spurs will happily take the points at White Hart Lane. Give him the freedom of the land and good luck stopping the diminutive Uruguayan who will score from 30 yards or 3 with no invite needed.

Prediction:
I’m really worried for the Spurs back 4, but I think they will band together to slow Suarez down enough to reduce his impact. In saying that, they can’t seem to score heaps themselves so i’m going to say it will end up all square after an exciting 90 minutes. Draw.

Further Predictions

Cardiff vs West Brom – Draw
Chelsea vs Crystal Palce – Chelsea
Everton vs Fulham – Everton
Newcastle vs Southampton – Draw
West Ham vs Sunderland – West Ham
Hull City vs Stoke – Hull City
Aston Villa vs Man United – Draw
Norwich vs Swansea – Draw

The False 9 - Week 13

There were a few nasty challenges in the weekend's matches that could have resulted in red cards, but at the time only yellows were deemed sufficient. The main incidents I am talking about are Rooney’s ‘kick out’ at Jordan Mutch in United’s draw with Cardiff City and Kevin Miralles’ knee high pile driver that could possibly take the cake for worst tackle of the year on Luis Suarez. What interests me the most about these two much talked about moments is why the two guilty players were not red carded. Regarding Wayne Rooney’s ‘tackle’ a couple of points fell in his favour. The game was still inside 10 minutes when (after being harassed off the ball) he kicked out at Mutch while they tussled for possession. Refs don’t want to ruin the game so early on and this could be seen as one of those moments where the ref ‘pikes out’. He knows what he has seen, you either give nothing and say you didn’t see it, or you give a red. He did neither and deserves a week on the bench. Rooney has always had a temper and without doubt this incident reminds fans of the younger days of Rooney when these sorts of incidents were regular occurrences as his emotions got the better of him. These days he tends to be more controlled and his reputation is a lot cleaner. By saying he went home, watched the replay and still thinks it is a yellow is an absolute disgrace and typifies his character in my eyes. On another note if this foul was made by a smaller team, say Hull city, would the ref have still kept the red card in his pocket? I don’t think so. The smaller managers complain they don’t get as many decisions in their favour as the big clubs and this is another example of it. It’s not just Man United who will get these calls, City, Chelsea, Arsenal and the like get their fair share due to the number of stars in their ranks. Refs are scared to face the ire of top managers and sometimes this clouds their decisions. Once again they are only human and mistakes do occur, but subliminally refs have it in the back of their minds when reffing top clubs. When this decision is reviewed, he will know a red should have been given.

In the case of Suarez, his reputation preceded him. The tackle on Suarez was horrendous and could have seriously injured the South American and put him out for a long time, considering all the contact was made on the knee. People have come out and said if Suarez and had made that tackle would it have been a yellow card? Their point rings true as I’m sure if he was the one dishing out the punishment he would have received a red card. However due to Suarez’s reputation for rolling around on the ground and ‘play-acting’ at times, Phil Dowd may have thought that the challenge wasn’t as bad as first thought. He took a while to make his decision, but the way Suarez reacted was like any other challenge on him, rolling around on the ground even if most of them are hard but fair. He will obviously deny this but it is apparent in his game and could be considered a reason why a red was not shown.

These two incidents highlight the different reasons why some football decisions aren’t as black and white as they may seem in hindsight. Different players, different refs and the environment they are in will always make for different decisions to be made. That’s football, it adds to the drama of the beautiful game.

West Ham vs Fulham:

Considering the little clubs are struggling to get calls go their way, what better game to preview then two strugglers battling it out at the bottom of the table. West Ham have been a right old mess the last month. Big Sam has struggled to blend his young team together and their lack of firepower up front is exposed with a side wishing for a big name finisher or goal poacher. The Hammers have sorely missed Winston Reid since his ankle injury (so did the All Whites!!) and their defensive frailness has been evident, shipping 3 goals a piece in their last 2 games. With the Hammers only scoring twice in the last 5 games, they have to start turning round their fortunes. No better chance than against another relegation battler and a team struggling to defend stoutly as well. The key to West Ham winning this weekend is the experienced Kevin Nolan. It feels like he has been around for decades, and many will remember him strutting his stuff for the Magpies a few years ago. He is the heart and soul of the team and his tenacity and never say die attitude is something the whole squad needs to embrace if they want to be playing EPL football come the new season.
A few weeks ago I talked about Fulham having to pick up their game otherwise Martin Jol would get the flick. It has been two weeks since that report and I cannot believe how he still has a job. 2 games, 6 goals conceded and 1 goal scored. 10 points from 12 games is just not good enough for this side. They look like they are afraid of making mistakes and are always conscious of the repercussions of another loss. Playing in such fear stifles the attacking flair they can produce with the likes of Berbatov and Ruiz. It is infectious and seeps down to the younger players who are already out of their depth and scraping to stay ahead of the game at the best of times. This team needs an overhaul. A proud London club are putting in performances that the Wellington Phoenix wouldn’t even be proud of and something has to give. This could be another chapter in their book of what if’s or it could turn out to be a day that changes their fortunes for the year.

The Deciding Factor:

The perennial 6 pointer. If West Ham can stop gap their recent defensive woes then home town advantage might get them over the line. Fulham I have a small feeling might get up for this one. They showed signs of life in their last fixture and Darren Bent (yes, he still plays) created a few problems. If he and Berbatov get going, it could be another one of those days for West Ham.

Prediction:

Fulham to awaken from their slumber with Bent getting on the score sheet. Fulham 2-1

Chelsea vs Southampton

Two teams with a bit of a chip on their shoulder will meet early Monday morning to try and resurrect a troublesome week. Chelsea started the weekend well enough beating the struggling Hammers but followed that up with a dour display in the Champions League, where the Blues went down 1-0 to FC Basel. Some may say they were pretty much guaranteed a knock out spot before the game, but the way they performed has only left more questions on the table. Was Mourinho resting players for Southampton this weekend? Does he know his preferred line-up? I’m not sure he does. The depth in this side is amazing, but at times it seems like they may have an abundance in the wrong areas. They still lack a high scoring striker with Samuel Eto’o and Torres struggling for consistency. Just when Eto’o was starting to find form, he was pulled off before half time with a hamstring complaint, and so may be in doubt for this game. If the Blues can keep a clean sheet, they will create enough opportunities to put one in the back of the net. Or at least the fans would hope! The likes of Ramirez and Hazard need to provide the width and pace to break down the Southampton rearguard and give the likes of Oscar and Torres space to work their magic.
Southampton were the surprise team come the 10 game mark and still sit in 4th equal behind Man City on goal difference. They are coming off a loss to the Gunners (which isn’t shameful at all) last weekend where they will admit they failed to fire a punch at the Emirates. Maybe the midweek internationals took the sting out of some the Saints players’ legs as they looked half a yard off the pace. Lallana and Lambert were not on top of their game and failed to raise the level of their team like they have done so far this year. Some will say the honeymoon is over and reality is about to strike but I think this Saints team is built a lot tougher than people realise. This is not the type of side that is going to get blown away. If they can assert some midfield dominance over the Blues they stand a good chance of stealing a point or even 3 away at Stamford Bridge. They will have to be at their defensive best however to give themselves a chance of proving the doubters wrong early Monday morning.

The Deciding Factor:

What Blues team will turn up? If they turn up with the sombre attitude they have displayed too frequently this year, then they have the potential to be run over for periods at their home ground. However the start is crucial and if they can get on a roll quickly then it will soon turn into a canter as the momentum will be hard to turn once the Blues have it.

Prediction:

Southampton to shake the foundations by taking a point from Stamford Bridge. 1-1.

Further Predictions:

Aston Villa vs Sunderland- Draw
Cardiff City vs Arsenal – Arsenal
Everton vs Stoke- Everton
Norwich vs Crystal Palace – Norwich
Newcastle vs West Brom – Draw
Tottenham vs Man United – Draw
Hull City vs Liverpool – Liverpool
Man City vs Swansea – Man City