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April 2016
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WOLVES 4 Leicester 3
This was a lunch time kick off(If you reside in Britain)There is persistent talk of Puel losing his job if results start to go bad!And honestly,I am not sure who is raising these concerns.Leicester are in a healthy 9th position on the table.The only theory that would make sense,would be his countenance.Also,many could be measuring their standard today against Leicester of season 2015/16.VOICE ONE LET US DO THAT,SHALL WE....?Around this time,in 2016,Leicester drew 1-1 with Aston Villa (away) on the 16th of January.The following week,Raneri’s side beat Stoke 3-0 at the king power stadium.After that,it was the turn of Liverpool(who lost 2-0)and Man City who lost 1-3 to Leicester.In between these results Tottenham beat them 2-0 in the FA cup.Now,coming to the points, Leicester have 31pts from 23 games so far.Then Leicester had 47pts from 23 games.(5 wins and a draw more)In addition to these stats(so we can have a good perspective)Leicester was leading the table.Today,Liverpool are leading the table with 60pts.At the same time last season,City was 62pts for good!So it is an improved league.One could argue that Leicester have not improved in comparison.But,you have to ask,who has...?(Apart from Man City and Liverpool)So,it is hugely unfair to put pressure on a manager doing so well.(Who has the full support of the players,judging from how they fought back to 3-3,in this game)It is unfortunate that they lost but,these things happen to the best of us.
Bournemouth 2 West Ham 0
I predicted a West Ham win in this game.And,I am surprised it did not go that way!I know Amautovic was not in the side but I figured the rest had enough quality to tackle Bournemouth.And the possession stats...prove me right!Bournemouth playing at home had only 38.6%.Of course,having scored through Callum Wilson in the 53rd min,West ham would have taken over the reins in a bid to equalise.And this would have made Bournemouth to sit back and concede possession.Still,it would take skilled players to force a home side to sit back.I am surprised that Felipe,Noble,Nasri,Antonio,Rice And Carroll,could not conjure up a goal from 7 shots (eventually)at the Bournemouth post?Only,one shot hit the target!Seriously?How does this happen?When I used to play computer games(PlayStation And Xbox );if I did not have a single shot(on target) at my opponent in the first 20 minutes-I would be seething and forced to change my tactics!How do you go a whole match with one shot only,on target?Don’t get me wrong,I am happy for Bournemouth-Especially with the additions that Eddie has made..It looks like it is paying off,now.Cook,Ake,Smith And Clyne are improving their defensive unit.And,a look at the table could see them finishing higher than 12th(present position)by the end of May.
Liverpool 4 Crystal Palace 3
Liverpool are 8/13 to win the title.It seems the bookies are coming around the idea that it could be a red day(rather than a blue one)come 12th May.VOICE ONE-Did it finish 4-3 eventually,wow!Yeah,4-3!VOICE ONE-I Left it,when it was 2-1 in Liverpool’s favour.And,I said that is it-Liverpool would win 4-1 or something,what happened ?Well,you already know that Andros opened the scoring in the 34th min against the run of play?And,then Salah equalised with a 46th goal.Firmino scored Liverpool’s second,in the 53rd minute.Then you left...!Palace mounted a come back with an equaliser from James Tomkins in the 65th min.And many palace fans hoped that the goals would end here.But,Speroni made a few “half saves”and let Salah score again!Mane made it 4-2 before Palace pulled back one.So it was an enthralling game.Liverpool are proving resilient as well as entertaining.I do not like the ease with which Palace found a free header at 2-1.Van Dyik was culpable.I think he could have reached a little bit higher.I think he did not sense the danger enough.(Maybe I am being too harsh!)Anyway,two down...two to go!It is not yet over.Leicester and West Ham are pretty much harder games than the first two...Nevertheless,Liverpool are known to tackle the harder games with ease than the so called easier games.We would see...
Man united 2 Brighton 1
I am glad for Rashford!And for Solskjaer his manager.I think the young lad would learn a lot from his present manager,about scoring...Solskjaer was really good at scoring goals,when he was a player for united.The only person I could compare his skills and prolific attributes to,is Diego Forlan.(But,in my opinion Ole was better!)So young Marcus could do well,to pick up everything he can learn from the Norwegian.Unfortunately,this does not augur well for his Belgian team mate Lukaku.The big lad was a goal scoring machine in his Everton days(He still scores...goals) However,it is no secret that his ‘touch’ and ball control is not enviable.It is a huge credit to him,that he has made a huge success of himself at international level as well as domestic ...with that flaw.I think Van Nistelrooy did not have the greatest touch but he was one of the best goal machines.So it is not unprecedented.Nevertheless,football is demanding more and more from players.And,we have moved from wanting our strikers to be capable midfielders and wingers (at the same time)to presently,wanting them to just score lots of goals!We have finally,realised that goals win matches-And,it is not easy to make them!I was a striker during my playing days.I wonder sometimes how I would have coped if I had to run backwards and forwards all the time-And yet have the cunning ability and steadiness to slot the ball past the keeper many times over!The thing most managers and commentators do not realise is how much analysing the movement of the defenders plays a huge role to strikers.You watch him/her like a hawk-and in a split second,when he is out of position,you pounce.This skill made ...the great strikers like Henry,Van,inzaghi and others.(I have left out many names,don’t shoot me!)If you have to defend a lot,this leaves no time to observe your “prey”!So you can see when he is moving gingerly or slow.Maybe he picked up a knock(or he has low stamina)He could be out of shape.Anything,to give you the split advantage.VOICE ONE 7 in 7 now...?Yeah!March on!
Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0
This game went as I expected it.Cardiff have 5 wins under their belt already.I am surprised by that stat,really!I would have expected less number of wins,and more draws.I guess ...it is a testimony to the way Warnock wants his Cardiff side to play.I mean,one can adopt the defensive and hard to beat stance.But,that would put a team in a negative stance or attitude towards winning games.And,once this attitude is cast into a habit,it is hard to break!Teams like ...that do not win lots of matches(They draw many...)And when you do the maths,for relegation battles and premiership battles,you find out quickly that 3pts (in a win)goes a long way.You would have to match it with 3 draws!So I think,despite these “heavy”defeats for Cardiff;they seem to have the right formula for surviving.And,that is their only priority at present!
This was a lunch time kick off(If you reside in Britain)There is persistent talk of Puel losing his job if results start to go bad!And honestly,I am not sure who is raising these concerns.Leicester are in a healthy 9th position on the table.The only theory that would make sense,would be his countenance.Also,many could be measuring their standard today against Leicester of season 2015/16.VOICE ONE LET US DO THAT,SHALL WE....?Around this time,in 2016,Leicester drew 1-1 with Aston Villa (away) on the 16th of January.The following week,Raneri’s side beat Stoke 3-0 at the king power stadium.After that,it was the turn of Liverpool(who lost 2-0)and Man City who lost 1-3 to Leicester.In between these results Tottenham beat them 2-0 in the FA cup.Now,coming to the points, Leicester have 31pts from 23 games so far.Then Leicester had 47pts from 23 games.(5 wins and a draw more)In addition to these stats(so we can have a good perspective)Leicester was leading the table.Today,Liverpool are leading the table with 60pts.At the same time last season,City was 62pts for good!So it is an improved league.One could argue that Leicester have not improved in comparison.But,you have to ask,who has...?(Apart from Man City and Liverpool)So,it is hugely unfair to put pressure on a manager doing so well.(Who has the full support of the players,judging from how they fought back to 3-3,in this game)It is unfortunate that they lost but,these things happen to the best of us.
Bournemouth 2 West Ham 0
I predicted a West Ham win in this game.And,I am surprised it did not go that way!I know Amautovic was not in the side but I figured the rest had enough quality to tackle Bournemouth.And the possession stats...prove me right!Bournemouth playing at home had only 38.6%.Of course,having scored through Callum Wilson in the 53rd min,West ham would have taken over the reins in a bid to equalise.And this would have made Bournemouth to sit back and concede possession.Still,it would take skilled players to force a home side to sit back.I am surprised that Felipe,Noble,Nasri,Antonio,Rice And Carroll,could not conjure up a goal from 7 shots (eventually)at the Bournemouth post?Only,one shot hit the target!Seriously?How does this happen?When I used to play computer games(PlayStation And Xbox );if I did not have a single shot(on target) at my opponent in the first 20 minutes-I would be seething and forced to change my tactics!How do you go a whole match with one shot only,on target?Don’t get me wrong,I am happy for Bournemouth-Especially with the additions that Eddie has made..It looks like it is paying off,now.Cook,Ake,Smith And Clyne are improving their defensive unit.And,a look at the table could see them finishing higher than 12th(present position)by the end of May.
Liverpool 4 Crystal Palace 3
Liverpool are 8/13 to win the title.It seems the bookies are coming around the idea that it could be a red day(rather than a blue one)come 12th May.VOICE ONE-Did it finish 4-3 eventually,wow!Yeah,4-3!VOICE ONE-I Left it,when it was 2-1 in Liverpool’s favour.And,I said that is it-Liverpool would win 4-1 or something,what happened ?Well,you already know that Andros opened the scoring in the 34th min against the run of play?And,then Salah equalised with a 46th goal.Firmino scored Liverpool’s second,in the 53rd minute.Then you left...!Palace mounted a come back with an equaliser from James Tomkins in the 65th min.And many palace fans hoped that the goals would end here.But,Speroni made a few “half saves”and let Salah score again!Mane made it 4-2 before Palace pulled back one.So it was an enthralling game.Liverpool are proving resilient as well as entertaining.I do not like the ease with which Palace found a free header at 2-1.Van Dyik was culpable.I think he could have reached a little bit higher.I think he did not sense the danger enough.(Maybe I am being too harsh!)Anyway,two down...two to go!It is not yet over.Leicester and West Ham are pretty much harder games than the first two...Nevertheless,Liverpool are known to tackle the harder games with ease than the so called easier games.We would see...
Man united 2 Brighton 1
I am glad for Rashford!And for Solskjaer his manager.I think the young lad would learn a lot from his present manager,about scoring...Solskjaer was really good at scoring goals,when he was a player for united.The only person I could compare his skills and prolific attributes to,is Diego Forlan.(But,in my opinion Ole was better!)So young Marcus could do well,to pick up everything he can learn from the Norwegian.Unfortunately,this does not augur well for his Belgian team mate Lukaku.The big lad was a goal scoring machine in his Everton days(He still scores...goals) However,it is no secret that his ‘touch’ and ball control is not enviable.It is a huge credit to him,that he has made a huge success of himself at international level as well as domestic ...with that flaw.I think Van Nistelrooy did not have the greatest touch but he was one of the best goal machines.So it is not unprecedented.Nevertheless,football is demanding more and more from players.And,we have moved from wanting our strikers to be capable midfielders and wingers (at the same time)to presently,wanting them to just score lots of goals!We have finally,realised that goals win matches-And,it is not easy to make them!I was a striker during my playing days.I wonder sometimes how I would have coped if I had to run backwards and forwards all the time-And yet have the cunning ability and steadiness to slot the ball past the keeper many times over!The thing most managers and commentators do not realise is how much analysing the movement of the defenders plays a huge role to strikers.You watch him/her like a hawk-and in a split second,when he is out of position,you pounce.This skill made ...the great strikers like Henry,Van,inzaghi and others.(I have left out many names,don’t shoot me!)If you have to defend a lot,this leaves no time to observe your “prey”!So you can see when he is moving gingerly or slow.Maybe he picked up a knock(or he has low stamina)He could be out of shape.Anything,to give you the split advantage.VOICE ONE 7 in 7 now...?Yeah!March on!
Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0
This game went as I expected it.Cardiff have 5 wins under their belt already.I am surprised by that stat,really!I would have expected less number of wins,and more draws.I guess ...it is a testimony to the way Warnock wants his Cardiff side to play.I mean,one can adopt the defensive and hard to beat stance.But,that would put a team in a negative stance or attitude towards winning games.And,once this attitude is cast into a habit,it is hard to break!Teams like ...that do not win lots of matches(They draw many...)And when you do the maths,for relegation battles and premiership battles,you find out quickly that 3pts (in a win)goes a long way.You would have to match it with 3 draws!So I think,despite these “heavy”defeats for Cardiff;they seem to have the right formula for surviving.And,that is their only priority at present!
Southampton 2 Everton 1
Oh!Everton Oh! Everton!I say this ...every weekend review.I take this tone because I now know Everton well.It does not stop me from predicting in their favour,but I know they are bound to disappoint sooner rather than later!Head to head analyse suggested that Southampton had a chance.In the last six encounters Southampton had won 50% of the matches,drawn 17% and lost to Everton on 33% of the occasions.Look,if one was checking these things before you bet money on them,then maybe you would have gambled on Southampton .And,it would be a hunch move...or a bet because,Everton are higher on the table.Southampton are only recovering from a really poor start to the season.So who would you have ....gone for?VOICE ONE Everton...Sure!But who won?Southampton.I went(alongside a lot of my colleagues )for a draw.I saw that some prominent pundits went for a draw as well.Oh! No ...not Everton!What shall we do with,Everton...people?So far Everton have beaten FULHAM,CARDIFF,BURNLEY,SOUTHAMPTON,PALACE,BRIGHTON,BOURNEMOUTH and LEICESTER.No big scalp there-Is there?No!So you can see...that it tells us something.This team does not have any balls!I am not trying to be insulting-when you look through out the squad,you see talent.But,you don’t see “balls”.It could be because,they are young but it does not matter!You need balls to win!The culture at the club may be tuning/toning down those traits.A reason Rooney and Niasse have left!A reason personalities like Walcot and Sigurdsson are meek mirrors of their feisty self.Even,some young blood like Pickford,Coleman,Gueye are looking like tamed lions with drowning eyes!If you employ “thinkers”with little vava vroom ,you get Everton.I am a think but when you see me on the court or football pitch,it is the complete opposite!Maybe Marco Silva needs ...to find his inner lion.
WATFORD 0 BURNLEY 0
Talk about finding your inner lion-This result suited Burnley more than Watford.So I would not lay the blame of a boring draw at their feet!I say boring...in terms of the result(Not the play)It was a game with lots of chances.And although there was no resultant goals-chances and opportunities make games interesting!And,I would make a segment to Chelsea latter on,from this point!VOICE ONE What is it?Be patient!There was a slight balanced nature to the chances and possession.I think Burnley had as much chances as Watford.Deulofeu squandered the chances for Watford early in the game.And despite Watford having 4 shots on target,and 3 off target...you would never score lots of goals if you do not understand the science of spins.Spherical objects like the ones we encounter in sports -Golf,basket ball,net ball Tennis(both of them!)And soccer(MLS fans,hey!)And even baseball..obey movement principles.Young players need to remember these laws when striking the ball.Deulofeu got behind the Burnley defence (in one of his early goal opportunities)And fluffed his lines.He had the right hand side of the goalkeeper gapping wide!He did not score because he struck the ball either in the middle or on the right side of spherical object.A knowledge of spin would have required him to caress the ball midway the surface facing him,with an intention to spin the ball away to his left(right side of the guard)so the ball goes very far and wide of the keeper(guard)but coil back inwards into the net.Easy!Really easy...I know!In that position,goalkeepers have no chance against good strikers of the ball.But,too many times I see players snatch at the ball(or poke it)without any due diligence to the spin of the ball.I know...I know I know...the ball is no longer what it used to be...A reason Lampard scored so many free kicks(Ronaldo too!)Just belt or pelt it with real force,and it flies like a hissing ballon in front of the keeper.VOICE ONE hahaaa!Myth debunked there!hahaSo my advice to you budding soccer players,go and watch the Australian open tennis right now!If you cannot see how the le bron James’s of the world spin that basket ball then ...check out Tennis players in action.
Arsenal 2 CHELSEA 0
Ok!This one annoyed me a bit!Let me start with the Sarri comment after the game.Apparently,Sarri said his Chelsea players are hard to motivate.Of course,he is taking cue from his predecessor Conte.The former Italian national Coach used to scream encouraging barks at the Chelsea players (almost throughout the match)You could hear Conte on the background,constantly shouting.He had to do this ...to get the Chelsea players to stay in position,move at the right time.And,encourage unison.So,this is the background from which he is speaking-as the type of Chelsea players presently playing are by default slow movers.They are not (all) as slow as Loftus-Cheek but they are slow reactors.Even,speed merchants like victor Moses and Willian are incredibly slow reactors.I grant that they are skilful but very easy to upset their rhythm if you hurry them up.And Unai ...pinpointed this early in the game.I know!It was spot on...!However,the referee did not cover himself in glory,in that match.I believe it was Xhaka who pulled back a Chelsea player in the first 5 minutes of the game so deliberately,everyone wondered why he escaped a yellow card!And then he continued gesticulating towards the referee with ever decision. This set the tone for the game.And Arsenal literally bullied Chelsea into submission.I have never seen Arsenal so aggressive against an opponent.It was embarrassing for Chelsea fans.And the referee encouraged it!He blew very little for offences of nagging and pulling against Chelsea players.And when you have Chelsea players who want extra time on the ball,it became a very effective strategy for Unai.So,when I saw the comment about motivation from Sarri...I knew he was either scapegoating for his own slow reaction to the situation or he had no clue.The sad thing about this situation is that Higuain is just arriving!This is not the best atmosphere for a “favourite” of the manager to join the team.He has poisoned the attitude of some of the players already,with his outburst.A sure way to get yourself sacked!If they are lucky,this would simmer down very quickly,and the new striker would start scoring goals for them!The thing I wanted to mention about goals and chances is that ..100% passing accuracy and possession is not attractive,if you do not create lots(and lots ...)of opportunities to score!I know !.I have Just watched the video of Sarri’s post match conference...One gets a sense of someone aware of something slipping out of his hands.It is not a good sign when someone is talking like there is no Connection between him(the manager)and the players.He says ...his door is open!Have the players chosen not to use it?Is there warmth?We have seen how that is necessary at Utd.I agree ...with most of what he has said,but (again)the fact he felt the need to say it in public shows he may perceive he is losing grip!I dislike it when managers talk like players are foreign bodies in space-and they(the managers)are distant and too far to ‘know’ or affect their behaviour.Again,Fabregas leaving...may have unhinged the spirit of the team.He was a liability on the field but a glue in the dressing room.The Odoi situation is another one!I almost forgot Luiz interview with Rio.He wants to be seen as a happy go lucky guy.Fine!But not on the pitch,David!(Passing the ball loosely in the first 10 minutes!}That was not helpful for the nerves of your teammates.And you are supposed to be one of the leaders.We would see ..how things develop.You can see how long this section is....haha!
HUDDERSFIELD 0 Man CITY 3
No surprise here!David Wagner is gone!These players would fall apart like a pack of cards.I think the management have made the wrong gamble.They should have stuck with David,and funded an improvement scheme.The big surprise ..in this game was that it did not end up with a larger goal difference!
Man City are doing everything they need to apply pressure upon Liverpool.The goals from Sane,Sterling And Danilo are very good-but the crunch would come in latter games.
Fulham 1 Tottenham 2
Just starting ...as I write this part-I would switch over and go to watch it now!I would be back.I hear llorente is in for Kane.Son is also an absentee...This would be interesting.Welcome back Babel!what have you learnt...?This is not Liverpool but,it is English football,welcome back!It looks a bit smooth and easy for Tottenham.I foresee..a goal coming soon!Spurs are throwing the ball into the box at every chance.I guess llorente is the target but,Alli has been found.Eriksen has found some space to shoot (apart from an awful free kick close to the edge)Babel has not made any impact yet.And I reckon it is because,the structure of Fulham’s play is not strong enough to reach every node.Goaal!This is beyond belief!Llorente scores..!No!Not at the end that you are thinking of...Aww!He has scored an own goal.It is Fulham 1-0.Blimey!
So Tottenham fight back to win 2-1.With goals from Harry winks and Alli.By the way Alli got injured!Pochettino would be slightly worried.Fulham need to get a solid defender as a matter of emergency.And,I would look no further than Gary Cahill if he is available.It is a waste of money to get Babel(who looked “potent” on the sprint)if the whole team is pushed backwards all the time.A fixing of that back problem,would guarantee safety,I know...this
Happy reading as we look forward to the weekend games!austin4sports.com
Oh!Everton Oh! Everton!I say this ...every weekend review.I take this tone because I now know Everton well.It does not stop me from predicting in their favour,but I know they are bound to disappoint sooner rather than later!Head to head analyse suggested that Southampton had a chance.In the last six encounters Southampton had won 50% of the matches,drawn 17% and lost to Everton on 33% of the occasions.Look,if one was checking these things before you bet money on them,then maybe you would have gambled on Southampton .And,it would be a hunch move...or a bet because,Everton are higher on the table.Southampton are only recovering from a really poor start to the season.So who would you have ....gone for?VOICE ONE Everton...Sure!But who won?Southampton.I went(alongside a lot of my colleagues )for a draw.I saw that some prominent pundits went for a draw as well.Oh! No ...not Everton!What shall we do with,Everton...people?So far Everton have beaten FULHAM,CARDIFF,BURNLEY,SOUTHAMPTON,PALACE,BRIGHTON,BOURNEMOUTH and LEICESTER.No big scalp there-Is there?No!So you can see...that it tells us something.This team does not have any balls!I am not trying to be insulting-when you look through out the squad,you see talent.But,you don’t see “balls”.It could be because,they are young but it does not matter!You need balls to win!The culture at the club may be tuning/toning down those traits.A reason Rooney and Niasse have left!A reason personalities like Walcot and Sigurdsson are meek mirrors of their feisty self.Even,some young blood like Pickford,Coleman,Gueye are looking like tamed lions with drowning eyes!If you employ “thinkers”with little vava vroom ,you get Everton.I am a think but when you see me on the court or football pitch,it is the complete opposite!Maybe Marco Silva needs ...to find his inner lion.
WATFORD 0 BURNLEY 0
Talk about finding your inner lion-This result suited Burnley more than Watford.So I would not lay the blame of a boring draw at their feet!I say boring...in terms of the result(Not the play)It was a game with lots of chances.And although there was no resultant goals-chances and opportunities make games interesting!And,I would make a segment to Chelsea latter on,from this point!VOICE ONE What is it?Be patient!There was a slight balanced nature to the chances and possession.I think Burnley had as much chances as Watford.Deulofeu squandered the chances for Watford early in the game.And despite Watford having 4 shots on target,and 3 off target...you would never score lots of goals if you do not understand the science of spins.Spherical objects like the ones we encounter in sports -Golf,basket ball,net ball Tennis(both of them!)And soccer(MLS fans,hey!)And even baseball..obey movement principles.Young players need to remember these laws when striking the ball.Deulofeu got behind the Burnley defence (in one of his early goal opportunities)And fluffed his lines.He had the right hand side of the goalkeeper gapping wide!He did not score because he struck the ball either in the middle or on the right side of spherical object.A knowledge of spin would have required him to caress the ball midway the surface facing him,with an intention to spin the ball away to his left(right side of the guard)so the ball goes very far and wide of the keeper(guard)but coil back inwards into the net.Easy!Really easy...I know!In that position,goalkeepers have no chance against good strikers of the ball.But,too many times I see players snatch at the ball(or poke it)without any due diligence to the spin of the ball.I know...I know I know...the ball is no longer what it used to be...A reason Lampard scored so many free kicks(Ronaldo too!)Just belt or pelt it with real force,and it flies like a hissing ballon in front of the keeper.VOICE ONE hahaaa!Myth debunked there!hahaSo my advice to you budding soccer players,go and watch the Australian open tennis right now!If you cannot see how the le bron James’s of the world spin that basket ball then ...check out Tennis players in action.
Arsenal 2 CHELSEA 0
Ok!This one annoyed me a bit!Let me start with the Sarri comment after the game.Apparently,Sarri said his Chelsea players are hard to motivate.Of course,he is taking cue from his predecessor Conte.The former Italian national Coach used to scream encouraging barks at the Chelsea players (almost throughout the match)You could hear Conte on the background,constantly shouting.He had to do this ...to get the Chelsea players to stay in position,move at the right time.And,encourage unison.So,this is the background from which he is speaking-as the type of Chelsea players presently playing are by default slow movers.They are not (all) as slow as Loftus-Cheek but they are slow reactors.Even,speed merchants like victor Moses and Willian are incredibly slow reactors.I grant that they are skilful but very easy to upset their rhythm if you hurry them up.And Unai ...pinpointed this early in the game.I know!It was spot on...!However,the referee did not cover himself in glory,in that match.I believe it was Xhaka who pulled back a Chelsea player in the first 5 minutes of the game so deliberately,everyone wondered why he escaped a yellow card!And then he continued gesticulating towards the referee with ever decision. This set the tone for the game.And Arsenal literally bullied Chelsea into submission.I have never seen Arsenal so aggressive against an opponent.It was embarrassing for Chelsea fans.And the referee encouraged it!He blew very little for offences of nagging and pulling against Chelsea players.And when you have Chelsea players who want extra time on the ball,it became a very effective strategy for Unai.So,when I saw the comment about motivation from Sarri...I knew he was either scapegoating for his own slow reaction to the situation or he had no clue.The sad thing about this situation is that Higuain is just arriving!This is not the best atmosphere for a “favourite” of the manager to join the team.He has poisoned the attitude of some of the players already,with his outburst.A sure way to get yourself sacked!If they are lucky,this would simmer down very quickly,and the new striker would start scoring goals for them!The thing I wanted to mention about goals and chances is that ..100% passing accuracy and possession is not attractive,if you do not create lots(and lots ...)of opportunities to score!I know !.I have Just watched the video of Sarri’s post match conference...One gets a sense of someone aware of something slipping out of his hands.It is not a good sign when someone is talking like there is no Connection between him(the manager)and the players.He says ...his door is open!Have the players chosen not to use it?Is there warmth?We have seen how that is necessary at Utd.I agree ...with most of what he has said,but (again)the fact he felt the need to say it in public shows he may perceive he is losing grip!I dislike it when managers talk like players are foreign bodies in space-and they(the managers)are distant and too far to ‘know’ or affect their behaviour.Again,Fabregas leaving...may have unhinged the spirit of the team.He was a liability on the field but a glue in the dressing room.The Odoi situation is another one!I almost forgot Luiz interview with Rio.He wants to be seen as a happy go lucky guy.Fine!But not on the pitch,David!(Passing the ball loosely in the first 10 minutes!}That was not helpful for the nerves of your teammates.And you are supposed to be one of the leaders.We would see ..how things develop.You can see how long this section is....haha!
HUDDERSFIELD 0 Man CITY 3
No surprise here!David Wagner is gone!These players would fall apart like a pack of cards.I think the management have made the wrong gamble.They should have stuck with David,and funded an improvement scheme.The big surprise ..in this game was that it did not end up with a larger goal difference!
Man City are doing everything they need to apply pressure upon Liverpool.The goals from Sane,Sterling And Danilo are very good-but the crunch would come in latter games.
Fulham 1 Tottenham 2
Just starting ...as I write this part-I would switch over and go to watch it now!I would be back.I hear llorente is in for Kane.Son is also an absentee...This would be interesting.Welcome back Babel!what have you learnt...?This is not Liverpool but,it is English football,welcome back!It looks a bit smooth and easy for Tottenham.I foresee..a goal coming soon!Spurs are throwing the ball into the box at every chance.I guess llorente is the target but,Alli has been found.Eriksen has found some space to shoot (apart from an awful free kick close to the edge)Babel has not made any impact yet.And I reckon it is because,the structure of Fulham’s play is not strong enough to reach every node.Goaal!This is beyond belief!Llorente scores..!No!Not at the end that you are thinking of...Aww!He has scored an own goal.It is Fulham 1-0.Blimey!
So Tottenham fight back to win 2-1.With goals from Harry winks and Alli.By the way Alli got injured!Pochettino would be slightly worried.Fulham need to get a solid defender as a matter of emergency.And,I would look no further than Gary Cahill if he is available.It is a waste of money to get Babel(who looked “potent” on the sprint)if the whole team is pushed backwards all the time.A fixing of that back problem,would guarantee safety,I know...this
Happy reading as we look forward to the weekend games!austin4sports.com
