Newcastle can’t seem to function without their former star player. Only 47 seconds in, Theo Walcott found the net. Just two minutes later, Johan Djourou sunk one in. In the tenth minute, Robin van Persie hit a long shot. Fifteen minutes later, Bacary Sagna hit a cross to van Persie, who sent the ball right into the net once again. By the 25th minute, the Gunners were four up. Some Newcastle supporters were leaving St James’ Park already – was it for a halftime pie and a pint, twenty minutes early, or were they going home, disappointed and frustrated that their side weren’t functioning without Carroll?

They’ll have to get used to it. Carroll isn’t coming back. As he stated in an interview with BBC Sport, ‘…when I finally make my debut with the number nine that’s when it will hit home that I’m here and I’m here to stay.’ Sorry, Tynesiders – it doesn’t sound promising for you. You can only hope for Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, or Leon Best to step up and take the lead.

In the 39th minute, Leon Best got what looked like a very painful knee to the head. He came off looking disoriented and nauseated. Alan Pardew had a similar look, though his was more nausea than disorientation. Fortunately for both Best and Pardew, Best was able to return to the pitch after just a moment off. However, Best still had a look of confusion about him; it would have been better to keep him off and bring Nile Ranger on in his place.

Alan Pardew has to work with what little he has anymore. The first half showed that Andy Carroll was the glue that kept Newcastle together, even though he had been on the bench with a thigh injury for the past several weeks. Just his presence seemed to be able to inspire his teammates. Now that he’s gone…well, everyone has seen what Newcastle has done – or, rather, hasn’t done – without him.

In the 49th minute, Abu Diaby was ejected for his reaction to a challenge by Joey Barton. It looked as though a proper fight was about to start – Diaby grabs Barton around the neck, and then shoves Kevin Nolan. For once, Newcastle fans could applaud Phil Dowd for a call. Several earlier free kicks were given to Arsenal when they obviously ought to have been given to Newcastle – is Dowd blind, or just biased? I’m not even a Newcastle supporter, and I thought that nearly half of his first-half free kick calls were biased towards the Gunners.

What is Alan Pardew to do? He has to improve his team’s defence. There was absolutely no one in front of Theo Wolcott when the first goal was scored. Two minutes later, Djourou scored. It could have been prevented if Newcastle had a stronger defence. Perhaps not all of the Arsenal goals could have been avoided; van Persie is a strong scorer, and Sagna’s cross was sharp. But if their defence was better, maybe the scoreline wouldn’t be as painful.

He must also improve his team’s offense. Andy Carroll was Newcastle’s only proper striker. Pardew must train secondary players – perhaps not first-team players – as strikers. Pardew cannot be without strikers, or it’s likely that Newcastle will slowly drop down the table, and fall into the relegation zone, joining West Brom and West Ham. No successful team can survive without several proper strikers.

Two penalties to Newcastle, and they’ve brought it to 4-3. Both penalties taken by Joey Barton, and both shot directly in. The second penalty was a very soft penalty; were I the official, I wouldn’t have given it. However, Dowd gave it, and Barton sunk it. Szczezny tapped Barton’s second penalty, but it still hit the net.

And then…Cheick Tioté scored. He equalised. Did you ever expect Newcastle to come back from a four goal deficit? I must admit, I was sceptical. In the 87th minute, Tioté brought the Magpies level with the Gunners. But could they maintain that score until the end? Or would the Gunners add another point to win 5-4?

No. The Magpies proved themselves – although it took two penalties – and drew 4-4. It wasn’t a win, but it wasn’t a painful 4-0 loss. At least they got a point, right, Geordies? Newcastle’s next match is against Blackburn. Can they beat the Rovers without Carroll? Without penalties? We have to wait until next Saturday.

But until then, let’s wallow in the glow of one of the matches of the season for the neutral supporters (and Newcastle fans).

Photo by wekkuzipp. Dalglish (pictured center).

Kenny Dalglish is known as King Kenny, and for good reason. Throughout his seventeen-year career, he played for only two clubs, and he had 559 appearances, with 230 goals scored between them. As a manager at Liverpool from 1985-1991, his teams won the FA cup twice and the league championship thrice. He and many of his senior players attended funerals of spectators who had been crushed during the Hillsborough tragedy, which changed the way he was viewed by both the media and Liverpool supporters. He brought Blackburn from Second Division to Premier League status. Rovers fans had been questioning whether the team even *wanted* to be promoted; Dalglish showed the fans that the team wanted it, and they could do it. Under Dalglish, Blackburn were part of the founding members of the then-new Premier League. ‘King Kenny’ is indeed a legend. But can he fix the broken Liverpool?

Roy Hodgson had control of the Reds for just seven months.  Out of the twenty matches during that period, more than half were losses.  I could compare them to West Ham…but that would be cruel and unnecessary. (Sorry, Hammers, but you know it’s true.)  In any other career, if you failed more than half the time, you would be sacked, too.  However, it has been mentioned that Hodgson was not the instigator of Liverpool’s downfall; that Rafa Benitez began the downward spiral and it only continued under Hodgson, that Benitez just knew when to jump off a sinking ship.

In Benitez’s first year at Anfield, taking over from Gérard Houllier, Liverpool won the Champions League; came in third in the FA Cup; were the runners-up in the League Cup, losing to Chelsea; and came in fifth in the Premier League.  In his final year at Anfield (2009-2010), Liverpool only reached the group stages in the Champions League; lost to Reading in the third round of the FA Cup; lost to Arsenal in the fifth round of the League Cup; and came in a disappointing seventh place in the Premier League.  In a bit of a consolation, Liverpool made it to the semi-final of the Europa League, only to lose to Atletico Madrid, who went on to win the league.  Perhaps Hodgson isn’t to blame for the current state of Liverpool’s affairs, though supporters shouted for his sacking more than that of Benitez’s.

How is King Kenny to fix this?  Liverpool failed in their first two matches under his direction.  Granted, the first was immediately after he took control. He could hardly be expected to have altered the team’s training. However, that loss put Liverpool out of the FA Cup, a crushing blow for both the players and Dalglish.  Liverpool also lost to Ian Holloway’s Blackpool, who had, just the previous week, held a lower position than the Reds in the League table.  How can he change a team that has fallen so far from glory?

Then things started looking up. Liverpool beat Mick McCarthy’s Wolves 3-1 on 22 January. There was a new energy to the team, their style of play had changed dramatically in just two matches, and in addition to the decisive victory the Reds had 31 unanswered passes. Thirty-one, a number which had never happened during Hodgson’s or Benitez’s reign!  Their next match, against Fulham, had the same exciting feel to it.  Fulham, who were only three points behind Liverpool, but who had an equal away win record to Liverpool’s home win record, easily could have recorded a draw had it not been for Pantsil’s own goal.  However, Liverpool were completing more passes, playing more defensively, and moving as a unit, rather than playing as just a collection of individuals.

The most recent match against Stoke City showed a completely revitalised Liverpool.  Raul Meireles put Liverpool one point to the good in the 47th minute, and Luis Suarèz, on his debut, scored a spectacular goal to give Liverpool a two point lead in the 79th minute.  Stoke had no chance.  It seems like Dalglish is turning what was a nearly-bankrupt, failing operation back to what it once was: England’s most successful club; the club that has won eighteen league titles, seven FA Cups, seven League Cups, five European Cups, and three UEFA Cups.  The club that recently avoided administration…just barely.

Now Dalglish has bought both Andy Carroll and Luis Suarèz. The Reds have won three matches in a row, something they did not do during Hodgson’s tenure, and rarely during Benitez’s. The style of playing has drastically changed, so it seems inevitable that the team reaches the top tier of the Premier League.

To quote ‘The Producers’, perhaps the only thought running through Liverpool supporters’ minds is… ‘He can do it, he can do it, he can make our dreams come true’.  Only time will tell.

At just over 6 feet 4, it is hard to imagine West Ham’s target man Carlton Cole easily fitting under anything.  But in recent weeks Cole and his West Ham team mates, under the guidance of first year manager, Gianfranco Zola have been quietly putting in some solid performances and getting results that has seen them become established once again as a solid top flight team.  With recent headlines focused around the ongoing soap opera at Anfield, Spurs re-purchasing half of their old squad, and Man United’s ominous hold on all things silver; the recent displays from the Hammers have hardly been noticed.

They are arguably (along with Villa) only second to Man United in terms of current form having gone unbeaten in their last 6 league matches – 8 with the FA Cup thrown into the mix.  Of those games, they have won 4 of 6 in the league and 6 of 8 overall.  The club has climbed to 8th place in the table and is currently 4 points better than the clutch of teams from ninth to bottom that are separated by only 7 points.  The Hammers will also likely fancy their chances of advancing to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup when they take on Middlesbrough at Upton Park a week from Saturday.

Of course, the season has not exactly been all roses for Zola’s men.  Early in the campaign, fans were disillusioned with the displays under former manager Alan Curbishley who found himself in a battle with the board over the transfer policy.  Add the collapse of the club sponsor and the ongoing financial turmoil surrounding the ownership, and the outlook was grim for the Irons.  Although the appointment of Zola in early September was a popular choice and provided an initial spark, the performances on the field did not really improve.  Two initial wins against Newcastle and Fulham were followed by a disastrous run of just 1 win in the next 12 that left the club as serious relegation candidates.

A 4-1 win at Fratton Park on Boxing Day seemed to ignite the team and since then the form has taken an about turn.  In a tightly packed bottom half of the table West Ham have ascended the division led, in part, by the great form of striker Carlton Cole.  Starting with the match at Portsmouth, Cole hit the net in five consecutive games tying the club record held by Tony Cottee, and bringing his tally up to eight on the season in the process.

While the transfer window did see several players, most notably Craig Bellamy, hit the exit door there was some positive transfer news at Upton Park with the purchase of German Under-20 forward Savio Nsereko from Brescia.  This move at least showed some continued ambition and represented a re-investment of a large of portion of the Bellamy sale back into the squad.

This weekend Manchester United pay a visit and, while on current form Ferguson’s team look unstoppable, West Ham will look to continue their recent home record against the Champions, having won the previous two corresponding fixtures at Upton Park.  Considering where the team found itself in mid-November most West Ham fans must be elated at the current position.  They are on course for a top ten finish and have every chance of making a deep FA Cup run.  Up front, if Cole continues to produce, Fabio Capello could do worse elsewhere in considering the Hammer’s big front man for a try out in the full England squad.  As Cole prepares for his 150th career league appearence, it’s not likely he will stay under the radar for much longer.

Jan 23 – Derby V Nottingham Forest

Jan 24 – Chelsea v Ipswich
Jan 24 – Doncaster v Aston Villa
Jan 24 – Hartlepool v West Ham
Jan 24 – Hull v Millwall
Jan 24 – Kettering v Fulham
Jan 24 – Man Utd v Tottenham
Jan 24 – Portsmouth v Swansea
Jan 24 – Sheff Utd v Charlton
Jan 24 – Sunderland v Blackburn
Jan 24 – Torquay v Coventry
Jan 24 – Watford v Crystal Palace
Jan 24 – West Brom v Burnley
Jan 24 – Wolves v Middlesbrough

Jan 25 – Cardiff v Arsenal
Jan 25 – Liverpool v Everton

There are a host of intriguing match-ups including a Carling Cup Final preview at Old Trafford and the second Merseyside derby in the space of a week.  The Cup has traditionally thrown more than it’s share of upsets, particularly in the early rounds, but it seems that predicting these upsets is about as certain as coming up with the winning numbers in the lottery.

Here is a look at the matches between clubs separated by at least one division, and a take on the chances of the fancied club being overturned on the road to Wembley.

Number in paranthesis is potential for upset on a scale of 1-5.

Chelsea V Ipswich (1)

A quick look at my bio and you’ll find that this one is close to the heart as a long-suffering Tractorboy.  As much as Town fans may hope for something from the trip to the Bridge on Saturday other than a few quid in the bank, chances for an upset seem dim.  Chelsea look like they are starting to play with more of an attitude and are rallying behind Scolari.  Town have had another indifferent season in the Championship, and as much as I hope that I’m wrong, I think the Tractorboys are in for a good hiding.

Doncaster V Aston Villa (2)

Villa won a close 2-1 encounter at Gillingham in the 3rd round thanks to a double from Milner.  Doncaster just completed their 3rd round affair with Cheltenham a few days ago, easing through 3-0.  The away fixture will present a tricky task for Villa and Doncaster could be up for a draw, but Villa should progress, possibly in a replay.

Hartlepool V West Ham (2)

League One Hartlepool are going for the hat-trick of top flight knock-outs after dispatching WBA in the Carling Cup and handily taking care of Stoke in the 3rd Round of this tournament.  Zola should have his team prepared and the Hammers have been playing well of late.  Though not insurmountable a third top flight scalp is not likely.  West Ham could be one of those “Cup” teams this year.

Hull V Millwall (2)

Hull’s recent league form has been dismal but they battled through a couple of tough games against Newcastle to advance.  They find themselves on the other end of being the fancied club in this tie and Millwall are flying high in their division.  It’s hard to go against a Premier club at home so Hull to get by in a close one.

Kettering V Fulham (1)

The biggest ‘David versus Goliath’ tie of the round sees non-league Kettering take on Fulham who are enjoying a decent Premiership campaign under Roy Hodgson.  It would be the shock of the round if Kettering could pull this off or even muster a draw, but the gap between the teams is too great.  Fulham, while not delivering a thrashing, advance to the final 16.

Portsmouth V Swansea (3)

The defending holders have been handed another home tie against decent Championship opposition.  The Swans have adapted well to life back in the second tier and are within reaching distance of a play-off spot.  Many expected Portsmouth to fall at Bristol City in the third round replay and Swansea could well have enough talent to force Pompey into an extra game once again.

Torquay V Coventry (4)

Torquay are the other non-league squad remaining in the tournament and a win for the Blue Square team is certainly not out of the question.  Coventry, like a few of their Championship counterparts in this list, are having a very average season and could be in for a shock.  There is still a big gulf in class between the teams so an upset draw might not be a bad bet.

WBA V Burnley (3)

Similar to the Portsmouth-Swansea match-up.  Burnley are having a decent year pushing for a promotion play-off place and could cause Brom a few problems.  But WBA have shown some improvement in form recently, and again the Premier club at home is hard to bet against.

Wolves V Middlesbrough (5)

Wolves are having a fantastic season and are well on the the way to reclaiming their Premiership status as they have led the Championship most of the season.  Middlesbrough have experienced a dreadful run of results which has seen them slip into the relegation zone.  This one is ripe for a Championship upset but with Wolves at home, I’m not sure how big of an upset this would be considered, though it could mean the end for Southgate.  Wolves to continue their fine season.

Cardiff V Arsenal (3)

The final inter-league match should also be a good one from Ninian Park.  Last year’s runners-up Cardiff are undefeated in 10 games and haven’t conceded a goal at home in their last four.    They have also built on the Cup run from last year as they push for promotion.  Arsenal have improved their performances recently and appear to be playing with more grit and determination.  This has the makings of a big upset but I’ll go for a partial in an entertaining draw with the Gunners progressing in the home replay.

Let us know if you have any upset picks or how confident you are of your team’s chances in this year’s edition of the Cup.  In the meantime, I’m off to figure out that lottery ticket and prepare for a good beating at the Bridge tomorrow….Cheers!

A quick review of the Saturday timeline:

(Note the match between Hull and Arsenal was the late game but the goals have been included in the timeline as it is based on the 90 minute game clock of the Saturday action)

4 mins:  WBA take the lead against Middlesbrough courtesy of Chris Brunt to get them on their way.
11 mins:  Danny Collins scores for Sunderland at home to in-form Villa.
30 mins:  Emmanuel Adebayor gives a rejuvenated looking Gunners side the lead at the KC.

HT:  All other games goalless which meant Man Unt were being held at Bolton and Chelsea were tied at home to Stoke.

52 mins:  Pablo Zabaleta scores for Man City at home against Wigan to relieve a little of the Eastlands pressure.
54 mins:  Richard Dunne gets sent off making the task that much harder for City.
54 mins:  Robert Koren adds to Gareth Southgate’s problems as WBA take a 2-0 lead.
60 mins:  James Milner pulls Villa level at the Stadium of Light.
60 mins:  Rory Delap gets in behind the Chelsea defense and Stoke, yet to win away this season, take the lead at the Bridge.

90 mins:  Frank Lampard hits a ferocious drive and, despite a valiant effort, Stoke will leave the capital empty handed.

Seven goals in the last 10 minutes and all four of the top five teams that were in action left it late before securing victory.  The strikes by Berbatov and Lampard, though similar in terms of the manner in which they secured the points, appeared to have somewhat different ratifications.  United’s goal was reminiscent of typical title contending squads in securing a game that they were expected to win.  In contrast, Lampard’s late score brought massive relief to both the Chelsea faithful and Phil Scolari alike.  Some of the home fans were headed for the local even before Belletti equalized assuming that Stoke had secured their first away victory of the season at their expense, as the Blues had appeared to be out of ideas.  But, the team continued to battle and after the comeback the manner in which Lampard and his mates headed to the bench to celebrate with Big Phil seemed to be a direct statement to dispel recent reports that the relationship between Scolari and his players had soured.

This past weekend was another example of the ongoing excitement and drama that can be found around the English Premier League on any given week, even during the grinding winter months of the fixture list. This appears to be more evident in the 2008-09 season as the league is packed tighter than it has ever been this late into the calendar. 

Saturday’s action was followed by an intriguing matchup at White Hart Lane on Sunday as Harry welcomed his former club but watched in frustration as Pompey earned a deserved point.  West Ham continued their recent revival as they dispatched Fulham 3-1 behind an inspired performance by Carlton Cole; and the first of two Merseyside derbies in the space of a week is still to come.  Bring on the drama, and as always feel free to comment and record your thoughts on the weekend action.  Cheers!

This run included a stretch where the boys from the KC recorded 5 wins in 6 games, with only Everton being able to garner a point in a 2-2 draw on September 21.  During this spell Newcastle, Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, and West Brom all succumbed to the Premiership upstarts.  The most notable game was probably the win at the Emirates which was an enthralling match that featured an absolute stunner of an equalizer by their midfield playmaker, Geovanni, as Hull battled back to record a famous 2-1 victory.

The only blemish in the early season form was a bit of a puzzle as City were taken to task at home by Wigan who inflicted a five-nil hammering in the last game of August.  Overall, Hull were leading the way in the top early season stories of the league, at one point climbing to a solid third place in the table.  Early comparisons to other promoted teams in recent history such as Ipswich and Reading that took to the top flight like the proverbial duck were well justified.

However, as everyone appeared to be planning the Hull City 2009 European tour and handing Phil Brown the Manager of the Year award, is it possible that the early “glitch” against Wigan was maybe something bigger than it initially seemed?  Is the early season Premier League honeymoon over for Hull City?

The spotlight shines brightest when a team is at the top and the recent slide is as alarming as the early season form was enlightening.  Consider the record since the 3-0 win at The Hawthorns in late October:

Won-1 Drawn-4 Lost-6 GF-14 GA-26

That’s 7 points out a possible 33, and while the goals scored tally is quite respectable at over one per game, the team’s goal difference has plummeted with 26 conceded.  To be fair, 9 of those goals came against Man U (3-4), Chelsea (0-3), and Liverpool (2-2) – with the game at Anfield a match that most pundits agreed Hull deserved to win.  But alarmingly, a 4-1 defeat at home to a very less than impressive Sunderland was followed by a 5-1 mauling at struggling Man City.  Brown gave his half-time team-talk on the field in front of the visiting Hull fans, as he insisted on apologizing for a dreadful first-half performance.

While Hull are certainly not the only team vulnerable to swings in form, the first half of their season can be split into two very strikingly different segments.  In a packed Premiership table, Hull City still sit in 8th place with just under half of the season remaining.  They are already almost three-quarters of the way to the magic 40 point watershed level, but after such a blistering start expectations have already been raised.  Interestingly in terms of points they are actually closer to a relegation spot than a European spot, albeit by only a single point.

There is no doubt Hull will continue to battle with passion, and produce flair and entertainment as their season progresses.  But with little ambition being shown in the transfer market, and the surprise element no longer a factor, hopefully for the KC faithful, the Tigers will not capitulate into a one season (or even partial season) wonder that has befell some of their predecessors.

Phil Brown has already established his credentials at the highest level to the point that he will likely become a hot managerial commodity, regardless of the ultimate outcome for Hull.  Thus far, the boys in gold and brown remain one the leading candidates for story of the season – certainly one of the most positive stories of the season no matter how the year unfolds.

Those festive pleasantries provide me with a nice transition into my first contribution for 2009, and a hot topic for some debate.  According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), the English Premier League is the top football league in the world for the second consecutive year.

The IFFHS generate a ranking using a statistical formula based primarily on the performance of teams from the various national leagues in continental tournaments.  The recent strong performances of English teams in International club competition, particularly the European Champions League, has resulted in the EPL dominating the ranks for the past couple of years.

Before we even take a look at the breakdown, most ardent followers of the game would not be too challenged in throwing together a list of the usual suspects from the best leagues around the world.  Off the bat, most people would guess that we could expect to see the EPL joined by the top flights from Italy, Spain, Germany, Argentina, and Brazil, but the order as ranked in this study may throw a few surprises.

Here is the list of the top ten national leagues according to the IFFHS 2008 report:

1. England
2. Italy
3. Argentina
4. Spain
5. Brazil
6. Germany
7. France
8. Mexico
9. Portugal
10. Ukraine

The complete list of the top 100 domestic leagues

The rankings may raise some eyebrows to say the least and has the potential to spark many other debates and ideas for future articles.

It is not exactly shocking to see the EPL, Serie A, and La Liga in the top four, but I must admit to being a little surprised to see the Spanish top flight fall to fourth spot behind Argentina, and the Dutch Eredivisie (one of my personal picks outside of the EPL) not even able to crack the top ten.  Many people will make the case for Serie A or La Liga to be the strongest in the world, though it is interesting to review the summary of the results to get an insight into the reasoning behind the standings.

There is no doubt that the streets of Buenos Aries and Rio De Janeiro are the breeding grounds for some of the most talented footballers on the planet, but I have always somewhat doubted the strength of the respective domestic leagues purely because it seems that the top talents jet to Europe to earn their stardom and riches.  Thus far, the elite players of South American football have had limited, or at least mixed, success in the English top flight, but there can be no questioning their influence on the Spanish and Italian leagues, dating back at least 20 or 30 years.

Maybe the high rankings of the Argentinean and Brazilian leagues are simply a reflection of the constant stream of talent produced in these countries.  After all, their respective success at the International tournament level speaks for itself.  A call-out to the Mexican league is also in order where typically it seems that not so many players are ‘exported’.

However, on the domestic front, this study really confirms what I, and maybe (or maybe not) many of the followers of this site, already realize; that the EPL is the strongest and most sought after domestic club league in the world.  The English top flight is a massive worldwide product that is ever increasingly difficult to quantify.  The reception that Manchester United received recently in Japan as they embarked on the FIFA World Club Cup mission is just an example.

Champions of the World and the World’s Greatest League

The English League Championship Promotion Playoff Final is dubbed the richest football match in the world, as the winner attains a pass to the Promised Land, albeit in many cases a temporary one.  Television rights to the EPL are unrivaled in terms of global domestic competetions.

Team for team, player for player, coach for coach, there really is nothing quite like the English Premier League.

Agree?  Disagree?  What are your top 5 leagues?  Is the EPL deserving of the top spot?  What about the MLS of the USA ranked just below the leagues of Angola, Ivory Coast, and Finland?

You know what button to hit below and we look forward to hearing from you….Cheers!

To be fair he seems to have improved in recent games but the spotlight was burning bright as Manchester United paid a visit to the Lane for the Saturday evening marquee match of the weekend.

There has been plenty written about the upturn in the fortunes of Tottenham since Redknapp’s arrival but the goalkeeping position remains closely scrutinized in the Spurs quarters of North London.  With the improvement in Tottenham’s form and United ominously starting to threaten Liverpool and Chelsea at the top of the table, this game garnered match of the week billing, heading into round 17.  The return of Dimitar Berbatov added to the spice and intrigue, although his status appeared questionable until kick-off.

The game, for the most part, lived up to the hype despite the typical appalling weather, and it was played in front of a great atmosphere.  Although Spurs had their chances, testing Van Der Sar on more than a couple of occasions, as expected it was the men in red that controlled long periods of the play.  The first half was relatively quiet in terms of goal attempts.  But Gomes had to be alert when O’Shea drove in a cross around the 6 yard box that even the crescendo of boos could not have prevented Berbatov from tapping in, had it not been for a quick reaction from the Spurs keeper to get down and knock the chance away.

As United drove forward in the second half Gomes rose to the occasion and appeared to gain in confidence as the match progressed.  His performance included a good save from a Vidic shot before he tipped over a rasping drive from Ji-Sung Park.  He saved his best effort for the dying seconds as he brilliantly turned away a Ryan Giggs free-kick that looked destined to give Fergie’s boys all the points in injury time for consecutive weeks.  The only time he was beaten was from a corner that Ronaldo hammered in, correctly ruled out for handball.

Van der Sar, in the United goal, certainly was not the spectator that he was last week at home to Sunderland as Bentley in particular lashed a couple of goal bound efforts that forced the Dutchman into 2 very good saves.  The match finished nil-nil due to the goalkeeping performances on both sides.  We might be accustomed to such displays from United’s stopper but there is no doubt Gomes stole the show on this occasion and gained his team a valuable point against very tough opposition.

Who knows if this form will continue?  Maybe it was a one off and it is just a matter of time before the next howler.  But if yesterday’s match was an indication of the Spurs’ keeper’s capabilities, and assuming he can deliver some consistency, then maybe Harry will have less to worry about between the posts at White Hart Lane.

The successful veteran managers are well known and leaders like Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have become iconic symbols of their respective clubs.  In addition, other EPL battle hardened leaders with several years in the English top flight to add to their CVs include coaches such as Rafa Benitez, Martin O’Neill, Harry Redknapp, Mark Hughes, and Steve Bruce.

With the astronomically high stakes and the pressure cooker that is the managerial hot seat of an EPL team, we’re going to take a look at the newcomers – the EPL “rookie” managers.  Seven of the 20 teams are coached by managers in their first year of leading an English club in the top flight.  For the most part, they are certainly not cutting their teeth in their first managerial assignment but to qualify for the list they must be in their first year as an EPL manager.  Club expectations vary quite dramatically in this group, from survival to Champions League glory, but it’s interesting to review how the new leaders are faring and what we might expect as the season progresses. 

Blackburn Rovers:  Paul Ince

Previous Managerial Positions:  Macclesfield Town (2006); MK Dons (2007)

Appointment Background:  After Mark Hughes was recruited to lead the renovation at Manchester City, Ince became somewhat of a surprise candidate to take over at Ewood Park.  Blackburn have enjoyed an extensive run in the Premier league and in recent seasons have challenged for a European qualifying spot, developing into a solid Premiership outfit under the guidance of Hughes.  Ince took a huge step up from the lower leagues and despite success in 2007 with the MK Dons, he has to quickly come to terms with learning the managerial trade at the highest level.

Expectations:  Sustain Blackburn’s status as a top 10 team and continue to push for Euro qualification.

Progress:  Right now not good.  Rovers had some early success bagging a first win under Ince over Everton on the opening day of the season.  Since then form has dipped and Blackburn sit second from bottom in the league with just 10 more points acquired since that initial victory.

Looking Forward:  Attendances seem down – at least the games I’ve seen and there doesn’t appear to be much optimism.  The squad is probably too good to be sucked into a relegation battle but it’s already been brought up enough to make Ince address the relegation issue with the media.  Ince will need to get this team to at least mid-table if he hopes to make this a long-term assignment.

Chelsea:  Phil Scolari

Previous Managerial Positions:  Numerous clubs in the Middle East, Brazil, and Asia in early career managing 15 teams in 15 years from 1982-1997, including the Kuwait national team in 1991; Palmeiros (1997); Cruzeiro (2000); Brazil (2001); Portugal (2003)

Appointment Background:  Avram Grant was never considered the replacement for Jose Mourinho and, despite a decent 2007 season in which Chelsea finished second in both the EPL and the Champions League, the search for his successor was on well before John Terry hit the post.  Big Phil was named Chelsea boss during Euro 2008.

Expectations:  Win just about everything with an exciting and attacking brand of football.

Progress:  As expected, Solari has adjusted to life in the Stamford Bridge cauldron with ease.  He is popular with the fans and press alike, and appears to have a genuine rapport with the players.  Chelsea are playing with attacking flair and style, leading the way at the top of the league.  Despite a setback in their last European Champions League match, they are in good shape to progress.

Looking Forward:  They will win something this year or at least come very close.  They are a solid team and even if Roman does not break out the cash again in January, Phil has more than he needs to work with to be successful.  Chances are he will be around for a long while as Chelsea campaign for silverware on all fronts.

Hull City:  Phil Brown

Previous Managerial Positions:  Derby (2005)

Appointment Background:  Took over in December, 2006 with Hull 22nd in the Championship.  Successfully fought off relegation and subsequently, the following season, led the Tigers to top-flight football for the first time in their history.

Expectations:  Avoid Relegation.

Progress:  The amount of material already generated on the accomplishments of Hull City and Phil Brown since starting their inaugural season speaks volumes. They are everybody’s favorite ‘other’ team (except for maybe Grimsby fans).  They have already collected over half of the 40 points usually deemed necessary to survive and have recorded some impressive wins notably at the Emirates and White Hart Lane.  It’s not all been rosy but they are the ‘feel-good’ story of the season so far.

Looking Forward:  They probably will not be able to maintain their initial early form but a solid mid-table position is more than reachable for Brown’s team.  Even if they do fall from grace, Phil Brown has established himself as a top tier managerial candidate for a few years.

Portsmouth:  Tony Adams

Previous Managerial Positions:  Wycombe (2003)

Appointment Background:  Harry wanted to go to Spurs-Spurs paid Portsmouth 5 mil-Big Tone was promoted.

Expectations:  Tough to gauge so it would be good to hear from some Pompey fans.  Portsmouth have been continuously improving over the past couple of seasons and enter the 08-09 season as FA Cup holders.  At the very least Adams will need to maintain a consistent and capable Premiership team.

Progress:  Too early to tell although Adams has been on the coaching stuff during the renaissance at Fratton Park and can be credited to contributing to their recent success.

Looking Forward:  If Adams can keep the squad around mid-table or better he should be fine for another year or two.  January could be a key month in terms of either building or dismantling the team, especially if ‘Arry comes calling with his checkbook.

Stoke City:  Tony Pulis

Previous Managerial Positions:  Bournemouth (1992); Gillingham (1995); Bristol City (1999); Portsmouth (2000); Stoke (2002); Plymouth (2005)

Appointment Background:  Returned to Stoke for his second stint after new ownership at the Britannia Stadium in 2006.  Achieved promotion in his second season back at the club to give the Potters their first top flight football in 23 years.

Expectations:  Avoid relegation.

Progress:  City are hovering around the relegation zone in a tightly packed mid to lower table clutch of clubs.  Stoke are playing a very direct style of football that has seem them record decent wins against Villa, Spurs, and Arsenal in addition to earning a very respectable draw at Anfield.  If they can avoid a spiral of successive defeats, they have a good shot at securing a second EPL season.

Looking Forward:  Fans seem happy and the players seem happy.  Unless the team go into a big slide Pulis is probably safe in his job.  Continued dedication and consistency could garner him a second season in the Premier League.

West Bromich Albion:  Tony Mowbray

Previous Managerial Positions:  Ipswich (Caretaker 2002), Hibernian (2004)

Appointment Background:  Replaced Bryan Robson in 2006 after West Brom had been relegated.  Achieved promotion back to the Premiership at the second attempt and guided the team to the FA Cup Semi-Final last season.

Expectations:  Avoid relegation

Progress:  Early returns were promising for WBA as they secured their best ever start to a Premier League campaign.  Form has since plummeted and the Baggies have just 1 point from their past 7 games while being outscored 17-3, and they currently sit at the foot of the table.

Looking forward:  If there is a bright spot, it is that the Premier is so tight this year.  A couple of wins on the trot can see any bottom club climb to mid-table.  Nevertheless, the current run of results is alarming and Mowbray will need to turn it around quickly if he wants a second Premier term to establish his top-flight managerial credentials.

West Ham United:  Gianfranco Zola

Previous Managerial Positions:  None (assistant coach for Italy U-21s in 2006)

Appointment Background:  An early season replacement for Alan Curbishly, who despite a decent record with the Hammers, fell out with ownership over transfer funds and seemed to be distanced from fans with high expectations.  The only manager with no prior experience.

Expectations:  Secure top half finish and develop a team capable of qualifying for Europe and challenging for domestic cups.

Progress:  Zola has had a bit more time than Tony Adams and it is probably still too early to see how the team will respond to the former Chelsea playmaker.  The Hammers secured their first victory in 8 games at Sunderland this past weekend, with their previous EPL victory coming in Zola’s second game in charge against Fulham on Sep. 27th.  Form does not appear to be very consistent and he still hasn’t been able to get them to fix that dodgy patch on the front of their shirts!

Looking Forward:  His current West Ham team look more like Championship material than the top 6-10 that their fans expect.  It could be a case of a champagne taste on a beer budget at Upton Park with the financial situation not likely to aid Zola in strengthening his squad.  His induction into football management could end up in disaster unless the performances improve quickly.  Zola, however, is a class act and undoubtedly a popular figure in Premiership football. Regardless of how his first term concludes, I think we are likely to see Gianfranco around top-flight English football for a while.

How do you think the managers new to the Premier League are performing?  Are you a fan of any of the seven teams discussed and if so what is the general feeling?  Of the seven coaches who has impressed you the most?

Cheers!

Unfortunately, Drogba took the bait from the taunting visitors section at the Bridge and hurled a coin back into the crowd after giving them a single finger salute.  Without a doubt a moment of madness from the player but he is not entirely to blame.  Idiot drunken fans who elect to abuse players to the degree of hurling objects onto the field of play have no place in football or any sport.  Once again, we see the act of a few morons overshadowing a great event for their team, as Burnley went on to win the match.

Players reacting to taunts and abuse from the crowd is hardly new.  Jamie Carragher was suspended for 3 games after a similar incident at Arsenal in 2002.  Who can forget the ultimate reaction from a player when Eric Cantona literally took matters into his own hands (or feet) when he went into the stand to exact revenge against a Crystal Palace supporter that was giving him the hump in 1995.  Cantona received a 9-month ban for his efforts but that was an extreme situation.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the latest exchange involving the Chelsea star, and to his credit, he has not attempted to justify or defend his actions, and will seemingly accept his 3 game punishment with no further word.  As usual, the media played their role in dramatizing the incident and chose to focus on coin tossing and finger shadows rather than a great cup-tie.

I’m not under stating the severity of objects being thrown to the field, but why in football is it always labeled as a missile?  The dictionary buffs can go and quote the definition of said “missile” but just for once can we not just call it as it is?  A coin was thrown and the player threw it back; simple, to the point and describes what happened, but that doesn’t make much news so it’s a “missile.”  If a fan throws a roll of toilet paper on the field, it’s a missile.  Paper airplane – missile.  Inflatable banana – missile??  Was the balloon that appeared to deflect the ball into the goal during a Sheffield United FA Cup match against Man City last year, not a missile?  If it’s a bunker penetrating laser guided high-explosive weapon, call it a missile, but please just for once it would be nice if the media powers could keep things in perspective rather than blowing up ugly incidents to sell another paper.

There is not a simple solution to this problem.  There will always be a small minority of fans that look to intimidate or antagonize any target they can find.  If players are punished too severely then it sends a message of encouragement to the idiots that perpetuate this stupidity.  On the other side, players have a responsibility to maintain their composure and to not respond to these types of actions from the so-called fans.  Drogba will sit for 3 games and I think that’s about right.  The suspension itself, however, will not garner nearly the news that the actual incident did, after all there is nothing left to blow up.

As Diego Maradona prepares to return to the forefront of international football it is quite fitting that he will make his managerial debut of the Argentine national squad in the cauldron of all English hatred, Hampden Park.  Anyone that can somehow contribute to the demise of the England national football team is embraced with great affection north of the border, and it is no surprise that Maradona has been afforded cult hero status once again as he prepares his side to face Scotland in a friendly on Wednesday.

Before we get going let me preclude this by stating that in his prime Maradona was one of the best players to have ever played the game.  His talents and skills driving the midfield of a powerful Argentina team made them a fearsome force in the sport.  In terms of technical skills, he was one of the best.  Note, I say one of the best.  Many, consider him to be the greatest player to have ever played, and if you consider his own self-proclamations of footballing genius, maybe that is not surprising.

However, let us get something straight up front.  Pele is bar none, the best play

Argentina are a perennial world power of football that boast a wealth of talent in the likes of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Aguero, Lucho Gonzalez, and Maxi Rodriguez to name but a few.  The rivalry, bordering on hatred between England and Argentina is well documented but in terms of footballing talent I give credit where it’s due.  Don’t get me wrong; when our nations match up, I am as fanatical as any red-blooded Englishman vying for the Lions to bury the despised men in blue and white stripes.  I still have the shirt depicting Beckham’s glory after scoring the penalty to beat the enemy at the 2002 World Cup finals – dubbed by some as the “Foot of God.”

The notorious, “Hand of God” incident in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal match between England and Argentina ignited the fuel of hatred towards Maradona and left a foul taste after an otherwise enthralling battle between two very good teams.  Before that incident, I felt he was a dangerous player that could derail our dreams of a world title.  His second goal in that infamous match was truly an amazing feat as he dribbled over half the length of the field leaving five English players in his tracks, confirmed that fear.  Sickening but amazing, and later described by England manager Bobby Robson as “a miracle.”

 Being defeated on the field is acceptable, it’s hard to take, but when the game is over, if you come out on the losing end, even the most fervent and bias fan has to accept that their team ultimately lost to a better opponent.  What true fans cannot accept is getting so close only to have their dreams shattered by such blatant cheating and then having that same player declare his act as the work of God.  So God’s a football fan and he (or she) apparently has it in for England.  Come to think of it though with the amount of tournaments that we’ve lost on penalty shoot-outs, maybe the little twit was onto something.

Back to Diego and he returned to the World Cup 4 years later as Argentina won through a series of penalty shoot-outs to advance to the final before losing to West Germany 1-0, on a penalty, in one of the dullest World Cup finals in history.  USA ’94 ended Maradona’s international career when he was kicked out of the tournament for failing a drug test.

Maradona enjoyed incredible success at the club level reaching the peak of his playing career with Italian Serie A side Napoli.  He played a major role in the team winning 2

Ironically, Scotland’s assistant coach, Terry Butcher was on the field at the Azteca in 1986.  I doubt that big-Tel will greet Maradona in the way that he really thinks befits this “legend” but, like any other England fan that remembers Mexico in ‘86, I also don’t think he will get carried away by the politically correct swath of adoration that has taken over the British media in the build up to the match.

If nothing else, it will be interesting to see how this latest chapter develops.  In terms of justice, there will probably be none for the English fan unless, of course, our respective teams make it all the way to the 2010 final in South Africa, and God chooses to give England a hand, if he or she is really watching.

 “The Arsenal offside trap. Lomper ‘ere is Tony Adams right? Any bugger looks like scoring, we all step forward in a line and wave our arms around like a fairy.”

Days worth of coverage and books of biblical lengths have already been written about the Redknapp inspired

Last week I tuned into the 7:00 am Pacific Time offering from the Fox Soccer Channel to watch Pompey make the long trip north to face Sunderland.  Keane versus Adams; an opposition veiled in history from their years of captaining Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively.  With big Tone only in his third game in charge since the departure of ‘Arry to the Lane, this was the first time they matched up against each other as managers,  funnily enough just 2 hours after the first 2008-09 installment of Arse versus Man U.

With Keano’s lads stuttering and Portsmouth looking a bit bewildered since HR headed back to the capital, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  As it was early enough, I figured a return to sleep the most likely outcome.

It was actually a pretty decent game.  Sunderland should have had the points away after the first half-hour but a combination of the woodwork, a couple saves from England’s maybe number one, and the linesman’s flag kept Pompey in the game.  Portsmouth came back with a second half screamer from Belhadj and Roy went home less than pleased when Defoe drilled in an injury time winner from the spot after a comedic attempt at a tackle from Diouf.

I mentioned the flag helped keep the game close especially in the first half.  To be honest it didn’t really occur to me at the time but the flag was going up on the Sunderland strikers quicker than a Cisse call to his barber on a speed-dial.  After several Sunderland attacks, I realized I’d seen this before – of course Big Dave on the Full Monty.  Cue the camera to the dugout as the managers begrudgingly shake hands, and of course, the architect of the Arsenal offside trap himself has just recorded his first EPL managerial victory.

Could this be the second coming of the famous trap?  The stats show that Sunderland were called offside 7 times last week (including a disallowed goal), and in the 3 matches that Adams has been in charge, Portsmouth’s opponents have already been flagged 16 times.  That has to be a bit above the league average and if Adams builds a defense that even somewhat resembles the shape and format of the back line that he led into battle for 18 years at Highbury, then the second entry on his managerial CV might be a successful one.

The English Premier League was founded in 1992 and has now completed 16 seasons.  Since the inception of the EPL, it has developed into the biggest and widely televised annual competition in the world.  With matches broadcast throughout the globe its attraction and popularity to a worldwide audience is immeasurable.

As a lifelong fan of the English league, I watch many matches and devote several hours a week researching and reading commentaries and perspectives on the beautiful game.  On any given week, the football experts will inevitably tell us fans that the EPL is the most competitive league in the world – depending on the announcer you might hear this a hundred or so times in a given game….we get it already!

As an unknowing fan, I guess I should just accept this as gospel from the media anointed experts of the sport and be happy watching the latest product from the most “competitive” league.  You know what though…that depends on your view and if we peel back the numbers we might revisit the definition of “competitive.”

At the heart of this discussion is the establishment and membership of the English “Big Four,” the globalization of the English game, and the accelerated riches of the European Champions League.  Success in the domestic league results in qualification for the Champions League – actually partial success is all that is required as it’s really the Champions League plus a load of runners-up, but you get the point.  This, in turn, results in even greater revenues for the elite group of ECL participants.  Bigger revenues, bigger salaries, players demanding European football and the divide between the “Big Four” and the rest of the league grows larger each year.

Now we don’t need a calculator to get through this stuff but when we crunch some numbers the domination of the elite few is astounding.

A few notes:

• 42 clubs have graced the top flight since the breakout of the Premier League
• Only 11 of the 42 have managed a top 4 finish in 16 years
• 4 clubs have won the title in the 16 seasons of competition
• 15 of the 16 titles have been won by Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea
• 10 of the 16 titles have been won by Manchester United
• Blackburn Rovers won the other one in 1994/95
• No English manager has guided a team to the English Premier League title
• In the past 5 seasons on only one occasion has a member of the “Big Four” failed to finish in the top four (Liverpool finished 5th in 2004-05)
• Manchester United have never finished lower than 3rd

Competitive?  You sure about that?  Don’t get me wrong, I am a fervent follower of the English game but the powers that be are getting a bit carried away by delivering the constant mantra of EPL competitiveness.  The top English clubs are now massive sports franchises that dominate the global game.  Top players are lured to the Premier league by riches that no other league can rival.

I have no issue with the best talent in the world earning their paycheck in England (or can at least save it for another review) as I’m all for the EPL being the finest in the world, but the problem is, until very recently; these top players have all been recruited by the same elite football country club known as the “Big Four.”

A quick look at the above chart shows that Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool have consistently occupied the top four positions with complete domination in four of the past five seasons with the sides taking the top places on 19 out of 20 opportunities.  Liverpool slipped to 5th in 2004-05 – the year they had to plead to be included in the Champions League so they could defend their European title.

Could things change this year?  History tells me I’m certainly not betting against the EPL silverware going anywhere outside of the usual trophy cabinets.

However, as we approach the 1/3 mark in the top flight of English football (give or take a decimal point or two), a strange phenomenon could be developing.  The most competitive league in the world seems to be, well… competitive.  After 12 rounds of Premiership action just 9 points separate the fifth placed UEFA Cup qualifying spot currently held by Villa from foot of the table West Brom.  Although two of the usual suspects are setting the early pace with Chelsea and Liverpool at the top, there is enough early evidence to suggest that this year we could continue to see the kind of fluctuations in the standings that are usually reserved for the Championship tier.  This development might just lead us to believe that maybe the Premier League is finally becoming competitive after 16 years.

In a future article, as a follow-up, I’ll take a look at comparisons to other top flight European leagues.

So, until then enjoy the “competition” and Cheers!