Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Over the last couple of years, everyone would pretty much agree that the level of un-sportsmanship behaviour has been rising in the Premier League. The likes of Luis Suarez, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez have all come under criticism for their behaviour over the last 18 or so months.
Of course they’re not the only ones. Even the media’s ‘flavour-of-the-month’ Gareth Bale has come under the cosh too for diving several times this season.
Bearing that in mind, it was a pleasant surprise to see a game of football last week that was in my opinion ‘perfect viewing’ for all the family. The match in question was Parma’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Serie A and it was a smashing game to watch.
English fans have the view that the play-acting is worse on the continent and that it’s because of the foreigners that our so-called home-grown stars aren’t quite as innocent and honest on the pitch as they once used to be.
There wasn’t a dirty challenge in the match. There was no shirt-pulling, or at least no shirt-pulling that was caught on camera. There were only three bookings but no dirty challenges. There were opportunities for players to go down easily, but incredibly they didn’t. Here were players playing on a dark rainy night who actually wanted to stay on their feet and keep their side in possession of the ball.
Parma getting the win was a surprise. Even more surprising was the impression Jonathan Biabiany made for the hosts against his former club. The player who was one of Rafa Benitez’s favourites during his short tenure in Italy, impressed playing up front.
He went on several dazzling runs and ran Inter’s full-back Juan Jesus ragged. Perhaps his perseverance inspired his team-mate Nicola Sansone to score the winner, as a deep run from the forward ended with him shooting the ball home past Samir Handanovic in the Inter goal.
The only blemish on the night was the absence of Wesley Sneijder. The playmaker’s future is up in the air at the moment and there’s a good chance he won’t be in Italy after the transfer-window.
Would he fit in at United? Yes.
Do United have more pressing concerns to worry about? Yes.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
