Barcelona, Kaka, a tough week in the Premier League and Burnley all feature in this week’s good, the bad and the ugly – the review of the football week on languagecaster’s football podcast. Click on the links below to find out more on all of these stories.
Good
At the half-way point in La Liga’s season, Barcelona have a record-breaking 50 points (from a possible 57), scoring 59 goals in the process and sitting 12 points clear at the top of the table. With all the press attention focused on the so-called best players in the world and their possible transfers (Ronaldo to Madrid and Kaka to Man City), the Catalan side are sweeping all before them (last week a 5-0 thrashing of Deportivo) and as every proper football fan knows they already have the best player in the world in their ranks.
Kaka refuses a reported £500,000 a week offer from Manchester City to stay at Italian side AC Milan. This is good for three reasons: 1. Money does not always talk. 2. It might stop some of the gloating by the Premier League over it being the centre of world football and 3. Come on, AC Milan to Man City? You’re having a laugh!
Bad
It was a bad day in front of goal for some Premier League strikers. Especially as the clubs they play for were desperate for wins. First Wigan’s Zaki failed to convert a header from three yards out with the goal gaping. A goal would have surely earned Wigan a point against Man City. Then, Bent for Spurs missed arguably an easier chance to give his team a goal and a chance of winning the game against a reticent Portsmouth. His confidence must be shot now, especially as his manager, Harry Redknap said even his wife could have scored. The wayward radar even affected Fernando Torres of Liverpool who had done everything right as he held of the close attention of two Everton defenders, waited for Howard the goalie to make his move, only to fluff the chance as he steered the ball onto the outside of the post. A tougher chance, but again a miss that probably coast valuable points.
Harry Rednapp’s comments regarding the FA Cup 4th round match against Man United were pretty bad as he admitted that he would field his weakest team. Harry, how about the fans? Harry, how about the team’s confidence? Harry, how about the glory of the Cup – the same Cup that gave you your only honour in the game? Pretty bad
Ugly
Players fighting, racist chanting and a host of red cards saw a pretty ugly week for the Premier League. Newcastle players Andy Carroll and Charles N’Zogbia had to be separated from each other in training after an altercation. This followed an on-the-pitch argument between two of the same club’s teammates in a 0-3 thrashing at Blackburn (good to have you back Joey), as well as Nicky Butt’s dismissal. There were also straight red cards for Middlesbrough’s Didier Digard, Man City’s Richard Dunne and Aston Villa’s Ashley Young. Four Tottenham fans were banned from football for three years after admitting singing homophobic chants at former player Sol Campbell earlier in the season. Tensions were high for the return game at White Hart Lane which thankfully passed off without too much incident. Tough old week in the Premiership.
You’ve got to feel sorry for battling Championship side Burnley, who came from behind after a 4-1 hammering at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane to stun the Premier League club and lead 3-0 at the end of ninety minutes. At that time the aggregate score was 4-4, but Burnley had an away goal. Surely a victory then for the underdog and a final against Manchester United at Wembley to look forward to? No. Extra time had to be played. Why? I have no idea. They had the away goal! They should have won! But the rules state extra time has to be played. Tottneham go on to score twice in extra time and broke Barnsley’s hearts. Cruel and surely an ugly rule.
