Good
It has been a fantastic week for title holders Manchester United. Fierce rivals Liverpool were held at lowly Stoke City on Saturday evening which was then followed by United’s 3-0 thrashing of a woeful Chelsea side on Sunday. Tuesday saw Ronaldo pick up the World Player of the Year award and then on Wednesday the Red Devils defeated Wigan 1-0 to move into second place behind Rafa Benitez’ Liverpool side. Very good indeed.
The power of the internet helped former Chester City player, Martyn Lancaster, get a new job with Scottish side Queen of the South. His wife had posted a highlight package on the internet after he found himself out of work in America. Right Damian, how’s your best moments movie coming along?
Bad
Might be able to get a game with my team Totttenham after a lacklustre display against Wigan saw us lose 0-1 to stretch our winless run to five games – and only one goal in those matches. Manager Rednapp launched an attack on his players but there have been some doubts over his tactics and transfer wishes meaning that he is also under pressure as Tottenham slip into the bottom three.
Staying with the theme of managers blaming players, Scolari of Chelsea also pointed the finger at his team, saying they were only achieving 50% of their capability. Straight after the game, he was happy to take responsibility, but apparently the Blues’ capitulation at Old Trafford against Manchester United was too much. The squad he sent out against Southend in the FA Cup mid-week didn’t feature Drogba and it looks as though the relationship between the Ivorian striker and the club has gone from bad to worse.
Ugly
Wayne Rooney’s foul language aimed at referee Howard Webb in the game against Chelsea. You didn’t have to be a lip reader to know what he was telling the referee. What happened to the Respect campaign this season? Bizarrely, Webb thinks the campaign to stop bad behaviour on the pitch is working. Ugly words and actions from an otherwise talented football player.
Despite some improved performances on the pitch and a steely determination to not sell any of their best players, it is getting ugly for West Ham United of the Premier League – behind the scenes that is. Their Icelandic owners have a March deadline to find a buyer for the club or else they may go into receivership, a form of bankruptcy, meaning that the team may be fined and lose League points. This seems somewhat harsh when the top four teams in the League owe more than a billion pounds in debts. Ugly days ahead for some Premier League clubs.
