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Berbatov a class apart: The weekend EPL review
Published by Ian John on September 20, 2010
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What a weekend in the English Premier League. We’ve had some stunning events unfurl over the past three days, Everton fans booing their team from the field after losing to Newcastle, Arsene Wenger having a good old moan because Sunderland scraped a deserved last minute equaliser, Dimitar Berbatov producing one of the best all round displays of his career to give Manchester United a 3-2 win over Liverpool, Chelsea strolling to a 4-0 win over Blackpool and most startlingly of all, Carlos Tevez new haircut.
We begin at Old Trafford, were Sir Alex Ferguson in his delusional state of mind that he seems perpetually to be in these days, reckoned United should have had ten goals and Fernando Torres was trying to get John O’Shea sent off, in their match with Liverpool. Yet again, the red cheeked Scottish berk rubs salt into an already enflamed wound and douses the fire of hate liberally in petrol. The game itself was lit up by a brilliant hat-trick from Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, the second goal has to be seen to be believed in particular. That strike making up for the Liverpool defensive ineptitude which blighted the first and third goals of his treble.
Liverpool got back into the game largely on the back of some woeful United defending, both challenges concievably denying Fernando Torres a goalscoring opportunity and thus red cards. But in the world of Fergie, bringing down a world class striker in the box or pulling him so he can’t race onto a through ball one on one with the keeper, does not consitute bad defending and a red card offense, instead a red card for the striker for ‘simulation’. It is as laughable as the strike from Berbatov was brilliant. Made all the more laughable by the fact that for 90 minutes, Nani gave as impressive a display of aerial aquatic acrobatics as you are likely to see outside of the Olympic final. United deserved the win, undoubtedly so, and they perhaps should have won more comfortably than they did. But they could quite easily have been down to nine men for the last twenty minutes or so and a little grace in winning would go a long way at Old Trafford for the rosy-cheeked hate-peddler.
These comments have now started the predictable flame wars between fans which will now go on until the teams meet up once again later this year at Anfield.
Carlos Tevez new haircut sent the soccer world into frenzy last week. It even got reported on Sky Sports news, we are that sad. City strolled to a win in Wigan, not the first team that has done that this season, and Roberto Mancini will be pleased his aristocrats managed to get back to winning ways after last weeks defeat at Sunderland. The win bonus may well have come in handy to pay for Carlos’s new hairdo. I await Sky Sports News breathlessly informing us that Wayne Bridge has put his cat out for the evening, with great anticipation.
David Moyes eyes bulged in anger as Everton lost 1-0 at home to Newcastle, Hatem Ben Arfa scoring the goal. The Everton boss reckons the Blues fans have a right to boo the team after a performance like they gave on Saturday. One wonders then, if Evertonians are going to be particularly busy complaining this season after a dreadful start has them on just two points and a miserable 19th place in the EPL.
In contrast to United, Chelsea could really have had ten by half time against Blackpool on Sunday evening. They settled for four and in the second half the seasiders boss Ian Holloway decided to abandon his tactical masterplan and go back to what Blackpool do best, with decent results in that they drew the second half 0-0. It was a tough experience for Blackpool, but Holloway will have learned a valuable lesson for the other difficult games coming up this season and at least he can console himself with the fact that after five league games, his team are two points ahead of Liverpool and five ahead of Everton.
Meltdown of the week was Arsene Wenger’s moronic outburst because Sunderland had the temerity to score right on full time to snatch a deserved point. Quite what the issue was I am not sure, but who does in these days, when football managers are so blinded by their insistence that they are the only people who see the game correctly. Arsenal were fortunate to be ahead in the game, courtesy of another Anton Ferdinand blooper. It comes to something when Titus Bramble is the reliable one in a centre half partnership, that is all I am saying. He was a bit unlucky Ferdinand, his clearance that hit Fabregas could have gone anyway, but what is he doing waiting so long to clear in the first place?
Next week sees Manchester City host Chelsea in what looks like being an intriguing clash. Can Chelsea maintain their perfect start to the season at Eastlands? We shall soon find out!
Image Courtesy of ***Catatan Bola*** on Flickr.com
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