Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
So after the latest week of the Premier League season, here’s what we learnt this weekend:
Firstly we’ve learnt that if more teams can play positively against Manchester City like QPR did, then Roberto Mancini’s side will not score bucket loads of goals every week. It was only due to Neil Warnock’s side trying to win the game themselves that City were able to get their winner through Yaya Toure and keep their lead at the top of the table to five points.
Toure has been in the news over the last couple of days saying that City’s second-team would be able to finish in the top 4 of the Premier League. Well shoot me for moaning, but isn’t that blatantly obvious to see ‘Mr I Earn £220k a week’ ? When you can have the luxury of buying any player at any price it’s no surprise that City’s squad has a great depth to it is it now?
We’ve learnt that it was somewhat ironic that Bolton beat Stoke 5-0 at the weekend as the last time the two teams met, in one of last season’s FA Cup semi-finals it was the Pottters who triumphed by that score-line. Owen Coyle’s side in truth (along with some dreadful injury problems) have never recovered from that Wembley humiliation until this weekend it seems.
When you are down at the bottom, going ahead early on in games can be such a difference to a team’s mentality. Some might say it’s also an hindrance as well as panic can set in but that’s for another discussion. Anyway as soon as Kevin Davies put Bolton ahead after two minutes, it was pretty much game over as Stoke just fizzled out offering little in attack.
We’ve learnt that again the saying ‘once a red, always a red’ when it comes to ex-Manchester United players ran true this weekend when Wes Brown unfortunately scored United’s winner against his current club Sunderland in a gritty encounter at Old Trafford. It was another vital win for United who cannot afford to drop points the way City are playing.
It was somewhat ironic that on the eve of Sir Ales Ferguson’s 25th anniversary of taking charge of the club whom he has led to an incredible 37 trophies, that his side won the game thanks to a helping hand from one of the most talented players to have come through the Old Trafford ranks, who the Scot once called the ‘most natural defender in England.’
We’ve learnt that for Spurs and Liverpool this could be a very telling weekend for both sides come the end of the season. Tottenham won a difficult away game at Fulham without Harry Redknapp who was missing the game after recovering from heart surgery and it’s games like that they need to win if they are to give themselves any chance of getting fourth place.
As for Liverpool it was another disappointing home draw against a newly promoted side. After having shared the spoils at home to Norwich two weeks ago, failing to beat Swansea City at home was a dreadful result. Yes Michel Worm was in inspired form for the Swans, but Liverpool have to win games like this to give themselves any chance of grabbing that fourth place too.
We’ve learnt that on current form Gabriel Agbonlahor deserved to be called up by Fabio Capello for England’s friendlies against Spain and Sweden this fortnight. The Aston Villa forward looks a rejuvenated man this season and aside from his goals his link-up play with fellow England forward Darren Bent has been outstanding this season.
Yes, it could be argued that had Wayne Rooney not got himself a three-match ban by UEFA which rules him out of the group games at the Euro 2012 finals, there’s a good chance that Capello wouldn’t have called up the Villa hit-man. But on current form it would have been harsh to have left him out and the man the Villa fans call Gabby is well worth having a look at.
Lastly we’ve learnt that the Newcastle band-wagon just keeps on trucking on after the Magpies sealed another win at the weekend against Everton that Mick McCarthy needs Matt Jarvis to continue to up his performances and that Blackburn fans decision to arrange a plane to fly-over the ground protesting againgst their manager Steve Kean was clever and cruel at the same time.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
