Angry fans
This week apologies to Berbatov; Self declared greatest; Why would Guardiola leave Barca; Mancini still confused with language; Will England get the World Cup; In Spurs defence; Van der Vaart prone to injury; What is Konchesky doing in this side; Hodgson’s away record; United could be the worst champions ever; United players thank Rooney for their rise; Arsenal’s French back four.
The Letter of the Week goes to Peter Heylin, Dublin. Get in touch with your postal address and our magnificent prize will be winging its way to you before you know it.
AN apology to a certain Mr. D. Berbatov . . . If one leafs through the Angry Fans Archives (08/04/2008), I may have said on that date that Spurs should sell you while they still can, as your "fluid style of play is almost gone." Spurs did indeed sell you. However, after your hat-trick against Liverpool, and your almost creating Premiership goal-scoring history at Old Trafford over the weekend, it is safe to say that I am now eating my words.
HAT-TRICKS (plus) against Blackburn and Liverpool. That makes Berber a flat-track bully doesn’t it?
- OUR SHOUT: Always nice to hear from Wayne Rooney
CAN you explain Liam why Pep Guardiola would leave Barcelona for London? Worse weather, worse food, multi-cultural identity rather than regional pride, no players like Iniesta, Messi and Xavi and a chairman who represents the worst of the Barca and Real Madrid presidents rolled into one without dipping into his pocket like either? Madness.
- OUR SHOUT: Peter, I think you’ve explained it very well, actually. Have our Letter Of The Week prize.
I HAD previously thought that Roberto Mancini spoke pretty good English, but when he says that Manchester City “played very well and deserved to win” and were “fantastic” against Stoke you can see that he doesn’t understand the language at all.
- OUR SHOUT: True. For once, Tony Pulis – “What game was he watching?!?” – made complete sense after a match.
COME clean Liam —should England get the World Cup in 2018, or would you rather see it go to Spain/Portugal or Russia?
- OUR SHOUT: Oooh, a toughie. Let’s toss the three-sided coin. Whaddya know? It’s time to pack the sun tan lotion. (And no, we’re not going to Blackpool).
AT last . . . some decent draws in the third round of the FA Cup. United v Liverpool would be a great final. Arsenal against Leeds has a whiff of 70s nostalgia about it . . . Jones and Clarke, Bob McNab’s foul on Lorimer, Radford and Charlie George. And here’s hoping FC United can win the replay against Brighton and then turf Portsmouth out for a place in the Fourth Round.
- OUR SHOUT: And what about Chelsea v Ipswich – and the hope, admittedly on the slide, that Keano will still be in situ by then.
IF you are looking at Spurs this season it would be a simple matter to pick Bale or Van Der Vaart, or even Modric as the stand-out player so far. But my view is that Gallas and Assou-Ekotto have been brilliant in defence. While the forwards always get the glory it is the defence that is making the difference this season. They’re in with a definite chance.
I’M finally starting to believe in this open season that Tottenham can break through and be league champions. At last they are not only showing the ability to dominate teams, but they are demonstrating resilience as well. Six points away from the league leaders, and into the knockout stages of the Champions League by Matchday Five. Could be one of the best Christmas periods for 50 years. And all that’s despite missing four penalties this season, taken by four different players.
MAYBE it’s just me, but does Van der Vaart look a little bit prone to injury? Is that why none of the “top” clubs were willing to take a punt on him and why Madrid were willing to let him go for €9m?
- OUR SHOUT: Whether or not Spurs consolidate or fade, there’s no arguing that they’re the Premiership’s outstanding entertainers this season. What else can you say about a side which, in losing heavily can supply a couple of contenders for goal of the season.
ANOTHER not-as-bad-as-we-used-to-be performance from Liverpool, but what the hell is Konchesky doing in this side? He was not good enough at Fulham, Charlton and West Ham, and sure is not a good player for Liverpool. He is too slow to see both the danger and the opportunity and was to blame for Lennon’s last minute winner when he was dozing. Rubbish. Get rid of him. And Johnston too - one of the highest paid players in the Premier League, unbelievably - while you are at it. Also Carra has gone. He needs replacing at the end of the season. Let’s hope that Hodgson and the new owners understand that.
ROY Hodgson boasts only nine away wins in 71 games in the Premier League. Is that really the type of manager that an institution of Liverpool FC’s magnitude deserves? How can somebody with such a pathetic record have won the LMA Manager of the Year award with a record margin of votes? And what was Christian Purslow on when he made the decision to hire this dinosaur?
- OUR SHOUT: Overlooking the fact that Fulham had rather a decent little run in Europe under the same man, are we not?
UNITED have not conceded a game, are playing in first gear, have lost Rooney for half the season, and are now leading the league. Incredible. They could be the worst Premier League champions since Blackburn Rovers. How will we ever get the Glazers out if we can win with this rubbish?
- OUR SHOUT: Yeah, and they couldn’t even keep a clean sheet against Blackburn. Scoring seven is just papering over the cracks. They’re doomed, I tell you, doomed.
HAS anyone else made the mistake of following Rio Ferdinand, or @rioferdy5, on Twitter? The social networking site is full of useless comments made by self-obsessed idiots, but Rio takes a sense of the inane to a whole new level with his mind-numbingly boring comments on such things as television and team spirit.
- OUR SHOUT: Bit of advice, Thomas, stop twittering.
WAYNE Rooney must be a hugely popular man in the Manchester United dressing room. After throwing his hissy fit and getting the pay raise he had done absolutely nothing to earn on the pitch, other team mates of his have started to follow suit. If the rumours that John O’Shea is about to sign a new deal worth £€93k a week are true, it will be another milestone in player power.
- OUR SHOUT: It’s worse now, actually. At least the refs didn’t go on strike in the colosseum.
HI LIAM, If I may, I'd like to recommend the recently updated, Manchester — A Footballing History by Gary James (James Ward publishing) to any readers who hav e an interest in how football, in Greater Manchester, developed from faction fighting, mass brawls and the temperance movement into the multi-million pound industry that it is today. It's exceptionally well researched, totally unbiased and all in all, a fascinating read.
- OUR SHOUT: Is this a plug I see before me? Oh, well, socket to ‘em. (Aw ards self red card).
GOOD result for Arsenal at the weekend, but they will not win anything with that French back four. Squillaci and Koscielny are not rugged enough and Clichy and Sagna are decent enough full-backs but do not play as a unit. Wenger should sign Phil Jones from Blackburn and Steven Taylor from Newcastle. Then he might have the makings of something. I’ll bet he doesn’t even bid for Gary Cahill in January.
- OUR SHOUT: Congratulations. You are the millionth visitor to this page to observe that Arsenal are weak at the back. However, you don’t collect our prize of a million euro (kindly donated by the IMF) for the schoolboy error of failing to slaughter the ‘keeper. Must try harder.
