There is a reason the Premiership is known as the most exciting league in the world.
This weekends events so far have proved that nothing is ever certain and teams should never give up whatever goal they are pursuing.
One of the few things football fans until recently would have said to be a formality, is that Manchester United would run away with the title when holding a 7 point and a game in hand advantage over their nearest rivals.
However, last weeks home battering against arch rivals Liverpool hinted that things may not be over.
And now, the champions shock defeat to Fulham today has capped off a fantastic week for Liverpool in their attempts to chase down the leaders.
Liverpool fans across Merseyside are now fully justified in their belief that their side can turn recent European successes into finally seeing their side lift the so far elusive Premiership trophy.
Rafael Benitez will be desperate that his side can capitalise on their late Sunday afternoon kick-off against Aston Villa, with the knowledge that a win would see his side come within a point of the Champions.
The Spaniard will be well aware that his side have difficult games to come, but riding their current wave of momentum the squad will feel the title is now in reach.
Tomorrow afternoons game looks set to be a torrid affair for faltering Villa, who could see themselves as lambs in the slaughter tomorrow afternoon against the resurgent Liverpool.
The time is now for Sir Alex Ferguson to prove that his side are true champions and come back from this remarkable week in Premiership football.
I wouldn't like to be one of the players in their dressing room today and surely the time is now for Liverpool to capitalise.
Sit back and enjoy the ride, because the next few weeks are going to be exciting.
21 March 2009
6 March 2009
The faltering pretenders
The Championship has long been known as one of the toughest leagues in Europe. The constant pressures put on players and clubs by the need to reach the Premiership land of riches often results in both a nervy and desperate end to the season.
After last weekend where no side in the top 6 spots managed a win, the midweek round of fixtures saw that trend flipped on its head with only 6th placed Preston failing to pick up 3 points.
If ever one week of football exemplified the nature of a division, this was it. While the Championship is renowned for its topsy-turvy nature, this season has proved to be one of the most bizarre.
Leaders Wolves epitomise this, as they have somehow remained top of the table despite recent league form that has included only 2 wins in the past 12 league games.
The faltering leaders will be counting their blessings as teams below them, such as Reading and Birmingham, have failed to capitalise on the opportunity gifted to them by the leaders.
Manager Mick McCarthy is one of the few people at the club who have experienced a Championship title success, and he will be hoping the Wanderers midweek win against Crystal Palace will act as a turning point for the rest of the season.
On current form, the team look incapable of getting promotion, let alone surviving next season. However, the first half of the season was a complete different story, with McCarthy’s young team running away at the top of the table. That previous form is what McCarthy will be desperate for his side to rekindle in the run in.
A run in which most difficult game appears to be a trip to St. Andrews although the Midlanders were comfortable winners there in the cup earlier this year. If the Black Country side can overcome Birmingham City in that fixture, they could be well on track for a return to the Premiership.
Soccer Saturday pundit Paul Merson claimed that if Wolves were to be promoted they would need another 20 players to stay up. That is surely wrong, with players such as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly having the credentials to carry Wolves potential fight to stay up next season. The only problem for the side, and it’s a big one, is their total ineptness when it comes to defending balls into the box.
McCarthy will be rueing the day Michael Mancienne returned to Chelsea, which it is perhaps no coincidence was at the start of Wolves terrible recent fortunes. A return to the big time for Wolves would surely trigger the signing of a centre half of his capabilities, as well as a steadying influence in goal with Wayne Hennessy proving unreliable between the sticks.
Wolves will be hoping that in this most back and forth Championship season, they can flip their recent form on its head and lead the charge in the closing weeks of the season.
Taking into account the season so far, would anyone be surprised??
After last weekend where no side in the top 6 spots managed a win, the midweek round of fixtures saw that trend flipped on its head with only 6th placed Preston failing to pick up 3 points.
If ever one week of football exemplified the nature of a division, this was it. While the Championship is renowned for its topsy-turvy nature, this season has proved to be one of the most bizarre.
Leaders Wolves epitomise this, as they have somehow remained top of the table despite recent league form that has included only 2 wins in the past 12 league games.
The faltering leaders will be counting their blessings as teams below them, such as Reading and Birmingham, have failed to capitalise on the opportunity gifted to them by the leaders.
Manager Mick McCarthy is one of the few people at the club who have experienced a Championship title success, and he will be hoping the Wanderers midweek win against Crystal Palace will act as a turning point for the rest of the season.
On current form, the team look incapable of getting promotion, let alone surviving next season. However, the first half of the season was a complete different story, with McCarthy’s young team running away at the top of the table. That previous form is what McCarthy will be desperate for his side to rekindle in the run in.
A run in which most difficult game appears to be a trip to St. Andrews although the Midlanders were comfortable winners there in the cup earlier this year. If the Black Country side can overcome Birmingham City in that fixture, they could be well on track for a return to the Premiership.
Soccer Saturday pundit Paul Merson claimed that if Wolves were to be promoted they would need another 20 players to stay up. That is surely wrong, with players such as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly having the credentials to carry Wolves potential fight to stay up next season. The only problem for the side, and it’s a big one, is their total ineptness when it comes to defending balls into the box.
McCarthy will be rueing the day Michael Mancienne returned to Chelsea, which it is perhaps no coincidence was at the start of Wolves terrible recent fortunes. A return to the big time for Wolves would surely trigger the signing of a centre half of his capabilities, as well as a steadying influence in goal with Wayne Hennessy proving unreliable between the sticks.
Wolves will be hoping that in this most back and forth Championship season, they can flip their recent form on its head and lead the charge in the closing weeks of the season.
Taking into account the season so far, would anyone be surprised??
2 March 2009
After the latest Premiership weekend of surprises, the manager with the biggest smile is one not involved in this weekends league fixtures.
Sir Alex Ferguson must have been overjoyed to see nearest rivals Liverpool fail to turn up against a Middlesboro side who had not won in 14 league games.
More strange team selection from Rafa Benitez, which coincided with a desperately poor second half display, cost Liverpool another 3 points and leaves them 7 points behind their arch enemies.
The decision to play Martin Skrtel at right back seemed bizarre at best, leaving the big centre half to look like a fish out of water against an inspired Stewart Downing.
The England winger was in great form, being involved in all Middlesboro’s good work on the day, and perhaps starting to justify his England team selection.
Meanwhile, the Guus Hiddink effect continued to inspire Chelsea, with the Londoners again leaving it late to put to bed an unlucky Wigan side.
Chelsea now appear to be the only side capable of making any sort of challenge on the leaders, with Real Madrid's chasing down of Barcelona in La Liga proving anything is possible.
The Catalan club were 12 points ahead, but Real Madrid are now only 4 points behind. Chelsea can look on that as inspiration for their title charge.
They will be rueing the disappointing performance at Old Trafford earlier this season, which leaves them relying on a big reverse in fortunes for the Champions if they are going to make an impression on the top of the table.
However that looks unlikely, with United remaining on course for the quintuple by winning the League cup at Wembley yesterday.
Ferguson’s ability to rest key players in a game of such magnitude, will be the envy of other Premiership managers like Martin O'Neill, who saw his Villa side inexplicably throw away a 2-0 lead at home to Stoke.
If ever one event could illustrate the difference between a title winning team and a pretender, the inability of Villa to see out a two goal lead at home to a poor Stoke side, shows that the Midlanders still have a long way to go to fulfil their lofty aspirations.
Ferguson’s sides have notoriously been hard to catch once out in front, and their dominance over the Premiership looks set to continue this season.
Although, after this weekend continued a season of surprises, United throwing away their massive lead would be a fitting end.
Sir Alex Ferguson must have been overjoyed to see nearest rivals Liverpool fail to turn up against a Middlesboro side who had not won in 14 league games.
More strange team selection from Rafa Benitez, which coincided with a desperately poor second half display, cost Liverpool another 3 points and leaves them 7 points behind their arch enemies.
The decision to play Martin Skrtel at right back seemed bizarre at best, leaving the big centre half to look like a fish out of water against an inspired Stewart Downing.
The England winger was in great form, being involved in all Middlesboro’s good work on the day, and perhaps starting to justify his England team selection.
Meanwhile, the Guus Hiddink effect continued to inspire Chelsea, with the Londoners again leaving it late to put to bed an unlucky Wigan side.
Chelsea now appear to be the only side capable of making any sort of challenge on the leaders, with Real Madrid's chasing down of Barcelona in La Liga proving anything is possible.
The Catalan club were 12 points ahead, but Real Madrid are now only 4 points behind. Chelsea can look on that as inspiration for their title charge.
They will be rueing the disappointing performance at Old Trafford earlier this season, which leaves them relying on a big reverse in fortunes for the Champions if they are going to make an impression on the top of the table.
However that looks unlikely, with United remaining on course for the quintuple by winning the League cup at Wembley yesterday.
Ferguson’s ability to rest key players in a game of such magnitude, will be the envy of other Premiership managers like Martin O'Neill, who saw his Villa side inexplicably throw away a 2-0 lead at home to Stoke.
If ever one event could illustrate the difference between a title winning team and a pretender, the inability of Villa to see out a two goal lead at home to a poor Stoke side, shows that the Midlanders still have a long way to go to fulfil their lofty aspirations.
Ferguson’s sides have notoriously been hard to catch once out in front, and their dominance over the Premiership looks set to continue this season.
Although, after this weekend continued a season of surprises, United throwing away their massive lead would be a fitting end.
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