Wow, what a big weekend of football!
After an action packed weekend I am now asking myself the following questions.
1. Have Man Utd re-asserted themselves as favourites in the Premier League race? United were second best for a lot of the game, and with a number of key players absent it looked like United were going to lose a third game on the trot. Yet in the last 10 minutes they came alive sparked by a Ronaldo goal; who his first-half goal aside had not really gotten into the game. A story book ending followed with a fantastic goal from youngster Macheda followed. This comeback seems to have nullified the momentum Liverpool achieved by winning last minute at Fulham.
2. Middlesbrough lost heavily, again. Will Steve Gibson keep faith with Gareth Southgate in the Championship? Not many chairmen would have kept faith with the declining progress of recent years, yet Steve Gibson has done what so many openly cry out for, he gave a young English manager a chance, and then stuck by him. Southgate slashed the wage bill and got rid of the big names that were there for the massive salaries. Others then got better offers, or just got old. Southgate is left with a young team lacking any players with Premier League veteran status. Having gone with a youth policy would it be better to stick with Southgate in hope for a quick return to the Premier League, or go with a new manager who might be less keen on sticking with the young guns?
3. What the hell has happened to Aston Villa? It has happened again, a team looked like they were going to break into that top four yet in the run in. In December Terry Venebles said Villa should not count themselves out of the title race, but by April I can't remember the last time they won a game of Football.... Was it before Emile Heskey joined? There is hope, in periods yesterday they looked good value for an Old Trafford victory. However, the gap between them and Arsenal now looks a little daunting, and if fourth spot evades them they best player will be moving to Liverpool, or possibly Chelsea in the summer. Where 3rd looked likely not so long ago, it looks like Villa will likely now finish 6th.
4. What the hell has happened to Hull City? In a worse free-fall than Villa they have only won two games since Christmas. I tipped Stoke to go down, but Stoke now look the strongest of the teams promoted last year. Will Hull join West Brom and Boro in the drop zone?
Monday Questions
6 Apr 2009
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1 comments:
United haven't impressed lately, they were lucky to beat Villa - but they did, and that was one of their biggest tests - so I think they're good for the title, even if Liverpool are the form team right now
Steve Gibson will keep Southgate, nothing makes that man act
Villa are suffering from fatigue and it's basically been a contest between them and Arsenal, as they both have quality, but paper-thin, squads - Arsenal have more quality, but I think Villa may make up the gap a bit looking at the fixtures
As for Hull, I personally think it's a psychological thing and they were on a high for a while after their promotion - also Geovanni seems to come and go, I think they'll scrape the required points, and it would be a record if they managed to get relegated from that position - and it's surprising how rarely those records get broken
Also you've got to wonder what will happen with United at Porto - knowing them they'll pull it off but you never know, I don't think they'll be getting 5 this year tho
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