EPL round-up (Dec #3)
December 17th, 2009 | Published in Ian-ything Goes | 7 Comments
More ups and downs in the Premier League as NONE of the Big Four got maximum points out of their two matches in the last week. This is gonna be one helluva season…
Top of the Table
My predictions that Chelsea will stumble as their fixture list gets tougher are proving right with each passing week. The good thing for the Blues is that none of the other Big Four teams seem to be capitalising.
The impact from Chelsea’s 3-3 draw with Everton and close shave against bottom of the table Portsmouth was lessened by Manchester United’s loss to Aston Villa, Liverpool’s loss to Arsenal, and Arsenal’s draw with Burnley.
The bad news for Chelsea is that the fixtures that my prediction are based on, away games against United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and home games against Arsenal and Man City, are all yet to come, as is the African Nations Cup when they will lose their two best players this season – Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.
United were woeful against Aston Villa, even though they dominated for much of the second half. There was no cutting edge to their play, none of the magic required in the final third to separate them from their opponents.
Arsenal will be sweating on the fitness of Cesc Fabregas, whose substitution on the stroke of halftime with what seemed to be a hamstring injury was arguably the turning point in their drab draw with Burnley. Losing Robin van Persie was a huge blow to both their style of play and morale. Losing Fabregas for any extended period of time, on the other hand, would be a fatal blow to their already slim title hopes.
Player of the Week
Didn’t quite notice any standout performances last week, so Didier Drogba’s two-goal show against Everton makes him my player of the week.
With Fernando Torres on the mend, he has to be the best striker in the world at the moment. His consistency has been simply outstanding, and there is never a comfortable moment against him if you’re an opposing defender.
His latest brace of well-taken goals were not enough to give his team all three points, but they did prove his undeniable talent.
Goal of the Week
There can only be one this week: Maynor Figueroa’s goal from inside his own half was simply magical.
It reminded many of a young, floppy-haired midfielder back in the late 90’s who scored a similar goal against Wimbledon. But David Beckham was an expert passer of the ball. Figueroa is a tough-tackling left-back.
When his Wigan team won a harmless looking free kick against Stoke City in their own half, Thomas Sorensen was just outside the Stoke six-yard box and relatively safe.
But Figueroa strode forward from his left-back position just as the ball stopped rolling from the tackle which had brought the free kick, and struck the ball first time. It was so well struck towards the top left corner, Sorensen would probably have found it difficult to save even if he was on his line.
Special mention should also go to Andrei Arshavin’s rocket against Liverpool. The Russian strikes the ball with so little backlift of the leg that defenders just don’t know when he’s going to shoot. He showed that again last weekend, and Liverpool just couldn’t do anything about it.
What’s with Wayne?
Not for the first time this season, Wayne Rooney was mediocre. Playing against a Man City reject in Richard Dunne, Rooney produced another frustrating performance – all perspiration but no inspiration.
Rooney is a hard-working, selfless player, but few would put him on the same level as match-winners like Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard.
The truth is, Rooney is at his best running, working and creating for the rest of the team, and he only happens to be good and persistent enough to score some goals along the way.
Fergie needs to realise this and find a real world-class attacker/goalscorer up-front (Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen do not belong in that category) for Rooney to truly shine.
The commentators and pundits like to say Rooney plays with the undying enthusiasm of a child, but the quality of his game still needs to mature if he wants to live up to the title once given to him of being potentially the world’s greatest player.
December 18th, 2009at 10:00 pm(#)
Rooney definitely needs to improve with his finishing. If it wasn’t for the penalty against Wolves, he wouldn’t have scored. Had 2 golden chances earlier and he missed it. Probably the only thing missing from him is a great finishing and I’m a firm believer that it’s a talent rather than something you’ll acquire with years of playing. That’s why I agree he needs to pair up with a great finisher. Owen does belong to the category but he’s just not the Owen we used to know. Berba is somewhat playing a supporting striker role and Rooney playing the center forward role. That somehow doesn’t mix.
Would love to see David Villa should he leaves Valencia of course. Or maybe Benzema again? LOL.
December 21st, 2009at 9:57 am(#)
Plus, his game is getting VERY predictable. He has no variety, no creativity to his play. How many times have we seen him cut in from the left to cross/shoot with his right foot? I don’t think he’s scored/assisted from that play this whole season…
So Rooney isn’t a finisher, he isn’t a creative support striker and he isn’t a good long-range shooter either. So what is he? Just a very hard-working player with decent feet.
Players like him need to be surrounded with quality, players better than himself, and then he will have some value to the team. He was able to contribute when playing with Tevez and Ronaldo by creating time and space for them to shine. On his own, he’s frustrated all the time because he’s just not good enough to break down the opposition.
Villa might work well with Rooney, but then we have another problem – Berbatov. It will be hard to keep a 30million pound striker on the bench….
December 24th, 2009at 11:13 am(#)
Only a moron would say Rooney isn’t on the same level of the likes of Lampard and Gerrard when he’s clearly better. He shows that every time in an England shirt when he consistently outperforms them. England’s best player. Ridiculous to suggest he isn’t on the same level as inferior players.
It’s shocking how underrated Rooney has become, England’s most gifted player since Gazza.
December 24th, 2009at 11:48 am(#)
TheTruth: IMHO, I think Rooney consistently outperforms them for England because Lampard and Gerrard are notoriously famous for underperforming with England. Honestly, to be the outstanding player in this current England team isn’t very hard…. Emile Heskey is the first choice striker! =P Plus, Lampard and Gerrard have been victims of poor tactics in the past with the England team – nobody knew how to play them together.
In any case, based on club performances, which I believe are a better reflection of a player’s true worth as it takes place over the course of an entire season, I believe Rooney falls a bit short of Lampard and Gerrard. Just my humble opinion…. Don’t need to call people morons….
Even as a United fan, I have to say Lamps and Gerrard (who is my pick for most gifted England player since Gazza, though I won’t deny you your choice and call you a moron) have been absolutely outstanding in the past few seasons. They have not just been brilliant, but more importantly, consistent. Fergie always says Rooney scores in bursts… I think that’s just a nice way of saying he’s inconsistent.
Yes, Rooney is a talented, hardworking player, but I still believe he’s a bit shy of the level of any of those players I mentioned. He lacks that bit of magic that your Kakas, Xavis, and Iniestas can give you, though he more than compensates for it by being an excellent team player. But that’s only for now. I do believe he can reach that level some day. He’s a great character with a great passion for the game and for that he will always be a United legend for me. But he’s simply not among the best in the world right now.
February 3rd, 2010at 7:42 pm(#)
eat your words. rooney is the only one lighting up the epl right now.
February 4th, 2010at 12:23 pm(#)
roger: Done! I’ve had my share of humble pie already. Had to admit on Football Every Day that I was completely wrong about Rooney (and Nani). He has been unstoppable.
Maybe it’s that trip the United squad had in Doha during the winter. Nani, Rooney, Carrick, Scholes and pretty much the whole team seems to have upped their game. Brilliant idea by Fergie. They were all excellent against Hull, Man City and Arsenal after their little vacation.
August 18th, 2011at 11:40 pm(#)
I stumbled upon this post earlier today while in the office. Very informative. Sent the website link to myself and will almost certainly bookmark it once I make it home.