Some might see it as a bit cliché to say that the Premier
League is unpredictable. Inexplicably, many people insist on debating whether
the Premier League is better or worse than La Liga. Of course, this is
ultimately irrelevant. And the answer would depend on what exactly you are
looking for. At the end of the day they are the best two leagues in the world,
and that is what matters. One thing in common so far is unpredictability.
Because, while Real Madrid have lost two of their first four games, the Premier
League this weekend saw another array of startling results. Out-of-sorts Aston
Villa comfortably beat in-form Swansea City, while undefeated West Brom were
thrashed by Fulham. Meanwhile both Chelsea and Manchester City were unable to
win away games against opponents who have not yet won a game between them. The
Premier League is starting to become a graveyard for the accumulator.
Predicting more than one or two correct results in any given week seems to be
getting harder and harder. Yesterday, out of eight fixtures, I predicted only
two correct results (and those were the more obvious home bankers of Manchester
United and Arsenal).
2
Things are starting to look a little worrying for Southampton.
No team has ever stayed up in the Premier League after losing their first three
games. The Saints have now lost four. Their team is full of decent players.
Youngster James Ward-Prowse has already caught the eye, as has Adam Lallana,
recently called up to the England squad and a player who has experienced the
low of relegation to League One and the high of promotion to the Premier League
having spent his entire career at the club. If Southampton are going to
survive, then Rickie Lambert will be their key man. He is without doubt a
natural goal-scorer, and goal-scorers are often the difference between survival
and relegation. Their performances against the Manchester clubs showed great
promise, but that could not be repeated against Arsenal yesterday. Though it is
too early to be calling for manager Nigel Adkins’ head, the allure of the
out-of-work (Match of the Day punditry excluded) Harry Redknapp, a former
manager at the club, will surely result in change at the top if results don’t
improve.
3
Arsene Wenger has come out and said that he thinks this
Arsenal side is capable of winning the Premier League. On early performances I
have to see I’m starting to agree. Today’s 6-1 win was only against
Southampton, and their other win has come against a disappointing Liverpool
side. Nonetheless, this Arsenal side is a far more balanced one than that which
came third in the league last year. Instead of one player, Robin van Persie,
having a monopoly on goal-scoring, Arsenal now have a team full of creative and
talented players who are capable of contributing going forward. Lukas Podolski
has found goal-scoring form, meanwhile Santi Cazorla looks like a terrific
signing with an eye for the assist. I don’t think Arsenal will win the league
this year, but I have no doubt that they can challenge for it.
4
Before the QPR vs. Chelsea match yesterday at Loftus Road,
all the talk was about handshakes. It has just gone to show what a farce the
handshakes before the game have become. I’m not entirely sure what they are
meant to symbolise. At the end of the day, they are just a show. I have no
doubt whatsoever that the mere act of shaking the hand of each opponent and
official before the game makes no difference to the players’ attitude and
performance on the field. So why bother? Matt le Tissier made a great point
yesterday, saying that the handshakes should go ahead, but not be filmed for
TV. It is this filming, and the constant repetition of the incident, which
makes it a talking point. As it happened, the game finished 0-0, which was the
worst possible result for those who hoped the handshake issue might be
overshadowed by an entertaining match. Post-game, the attention remains on the
handshakes. Anton Ferdinand was well within his rights to refrain from shaking
the hands of John Terry and Ashley Cole. It went to show that, despite Terry’s
acquittal of the criminal charges against him, the issue is not fully resolved
in Ferdinand’s mind. Particularly pertinent was the snubbing of Cole, who gave
evidence at the trial in favour of Terry. Credit must go to all three players
on the day, for not making a scene of the situation (unlike Luis Suarez and Patrice
Evra last season).
5
Speaking of Suarez, he is a player who makes himself so easy
to dislike. Yesterday he was booked for diving, one of the most heinous crimes
that a football player can commit on the field. For while bad tackling is of
course dangerous, it has the saving grace of being (in most cases) a legitimate
attempt at playing the game of football. Diving is just blatant cheating. One
feels that Suarez no longer receives the benefit of the doubt from referees.
They are fully aware of his reputation. This will surely have a negative impact
on his play. From now on he will have to be blatantly fouled to be given a
decision. Of course, it is not only diving which makes Suarez somewhat of a
pariah. He famously handled the ball on the line to prevent Ghana scoring a
last-second winning goal in extra-time of the 2010 World Cup Quarter-Final.
Asamoah Gyan missed the resultant penalty, and Uruguay won the shoot-out. The indiscretion
worked out well, then, but it was Suarez’s complete lack of remorse that made it
difficult to accept. Then there was the Patrice Evra racism row, for which
Suarez was banned for eight games. As his diving becomes more and more
prominent, Suarez is a man desperately needing to save what good reputation he
has left.
6
It has been a huge week for Liverpool Football Club and, in particular,
the families of the 96 people who died on 15 April 1989 during an FA Cup Semi-Final
at Hillsborough. Now that they have had the real truth (which many already
knew) confirmed by an independt inquiry, it is time that those responsible for
the disaster, and the cover-ups which came after, are made to answer for their
criminal negligence. It is reminders of incidents like the Hillsborough disaster
which make football fans like me thankful of the improvements that have been
made in terms of safety at football matches. Additionally, it is an incident
which brings all football fans together. It could have been any set of
supporters which found itself in a similar situation. For that reason it was
disappointing to hear that sections of the crown at Old Trafford yesterday were
chanting about the disaster. There is no place for that at football grounds,
and it is important that Manchester United have condemned those who partook in
the chants.
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