Angry Fans
Today, and every Tuesday, he will be acting as referee on your opinions on the Premiership. Let him know what you think and he’ll argue the toss with you. We’ll be offering a free sports prize to the star contribution each week. This week Berbatov should go; Keane to train with All Blacks; United’s strength in depth plus Rooney’s boundless energy; Nothing wrong with Arsenal that a few signings would sort; Grant’s wisdom; Brady not commentator material; Geroge O’Callaghan should shut up.
Letter of the week goes to John O' Sullivan, Blarney for his line of the week from the film “In Bruges”. Let have that address John and our prize will be on his way.
PAT Brady from Dublin wrote in last week, berating the complete lack of football references in the film "In Bruges". I say that he should watch this amazing film again, because he must have missed a funny quote from Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson that sums up very accurately the current state of affairs at White Hart Lane:
Colin Farrell: “So there's heaven and hell. And what's that other place called?”
Brendan Gleeson: “Purgatory.”
Colin Farrell: “That's right. That's the place you go if you aren't quite s**t but you aren't quite good. Like Tottenham.”
That little piece of footie-related comic gold does beg the question; what has happened to the Spurs team that used to be every soccer fan's third or fourth favourite? In the course of a season, they have deteriorated from being a team that was consistently finishing fifth in the League, to one languishing in mid-table mediocrity. That cup win over Chelsea was a once-off, a kind of glorious aberration that will soon become the distant memory that fans like to bring up in the bad times, to remind themselves why they still follow this team, much like what Liverpool supporters such as myself have done with Istanbul. This sudden change in fortunes can be directly linked to the drop in form of the Spurs player who only last year was their talisman — Berbatov.
His slow, fluid style of play is now almost gone. In my opinion, the end of this season is the time for Spurs to cash in on him while the striker still has some value, and bring in some fresh blood. His talents may have gone stale, but Dimitar is not yet past his sell-by date.
The Berb will probably score four next time out just to spite you, John. Meantime, for relaying one of the lines of the year, have our Letter Of The Week prize.
I SEE that Keano is going to spend some time with the All Blacks. What will they be able to teach him? How to do the Haka? How to turn Kenwyne Jones into a line-jumper? How to make Andy Reid look even more like a prop forward? How to carry a sheep underneath each arm while running up Mount Cook as part of a training regime? What do you think the New Zealanders have got to offer Roy, Liam?
Hard to say, but I bet they'll all turn up for their training sessions on time. By the way, I've just been reminded that the New Zealand basketball team has the best nickname in world sport - the Tall Blacks.
THE strength in depth of Manchester United's squad was clearly evident in their comprehensive 2-0 in Rome during the week. Paul Scholes rolled back the years with an imaginative display in the centre of the park. His delicate pull-back for Ronaldo's headed goal was the highlight in a vintage performance from the mercurial midfielder. Wayne Rooney demonstrated his seemingly boundless energy with another unselfish display while Ronaldo finally sparkled in an important European tie. If an English side is going to win it, it will be United. Sir Alex Ferguson has utilised his squad superbly thus far. Few would bet against the Govan native lifting the Champions League trophy for a second time. As for the remaining Premier League clubs Arsenal look tired. The minute the Gunners conceded an away goal to Dirk Kuyt they were forced to attack at every opportunity and failed to breach a disciplined Liverpool rearguard. For all Benitez's critics on his squad-rotation policy, his Liverpool side — despite defending for much if the second half — look the sharper coming into the final weeks of the season. Torres, Gerrard, Mascherano and Babel all looked much fresher than their North London opponents did on Wednesday night and Benitez should take some credit for that. Chelsea continue to look and play like a club in constant inner turmoil after their surprise 2-1 defeat in Turkey. Most worryingly for Avram Grant, his Chelsea defence conceded another two goals and the murmurs of results such as this never occurring under 'the Chosen One's' tenure refuse to go away. The Blues should have enough quality to turn the tie around tonight but a resurgent Liverpool are their likely opponents in the semi finals where Grant's future will be decided.
Good stuff, Ger, though the loss, however temporary, of Vidic and Ferdinand makes the case for Man U a little less compelling than it might have been. As for the supposed benefits of Benitez' squad rotation: anything less than another Champions League title and, with the domestic crown once more out of reach, the end of season verdict of the fans might not be so generous.
THERE isn't much wrong with this Arsenal side. They pass the ball really well, the only problem is they lack some cutting edge. A couple of quality signings in the summer should solve that problem, and when it comes to making quality signings, Liam, is there anybody better than Wenger? Certainly not Benitez. He will continue to buy badly because he is looking for the wrong qualities. Just look at Babel and Kuyt, physically strong and good at stopping the opposition from playing, but very limited on the ball. They are the kind of players that Fergie and Wenger would never buy.
Hmm, for some reason the name Veron springs to mind. And Rafa didn't exactly blow it by acquiring Torres, did he?
MORE wisdom from Avram Grant: "We know we could finish with 89 points and still not win the championship," Grant said. "But you can never tell in football. Whoever thought, back in September, that Arsenal and Liverpool would be behind us now? So anything can happen." You'd think we were 15 points off the leaders when Mourinho left. What a tool.
Last time I checked, Chelsea were three points behind Man U. So, clearly, Grant must go.
JUST a comment on Liam Brady (Arsenal Employee) being co-commentator on Wednesday evening’s Champions League RTE coverage. Fair enough acting as a panelist but not a co-commentator. Surely a commentator should have a fair and neutral opinion for the benefit of viewers. This is impossible if you have a stake in one of the teams on view. Short-sighted by RTE Sports Department.
Being that I was at the game and all, I can't comment on the content of Brady's analysis on the night. But, in terms of the priniciple of the thing, I think you're spot-on Tony.
WILL (the so-called great) George O'Callaghan ever learn to keep his mouth shut? Going to the press and complaining that he is playing out of position and that he should be playing through the middle is a disgrace. If I was his manager I would drop him; that kind of talk only starts dressing room unrest. There's more than one player in Cork City, George.
Always nice to hear from Alan Mathews.
I HEARD Avram Grant boasting the other day that “Chelsea were sixth, then fifth, then fourth, then third, then second . . . and now we have one more team to overtake.” Another interpretation of this might be that they started off in four competitions, then three . . . and we’ll just see how they go against Fenerbahçe tonight before getting too excited and ejaculating prematurely, shall we?
Good grief: first, Paul Baker calls Grant a "tool" and then our our old friend wieghs in by charging him with premature ejaculation. Why am I reminded of the phrase: the pen is mightier than the axe? And, of course, right on the, er, stroke of 90 minutes the ref whips out...a red card. Whew.
