10 Things We Learned in the Premier League: Turkish Delight

By: Daryl | December 10th, 2007

Gareth Southgate and Sunli Tuncay

The Premier League’s not just for staring at, it can be educational too. Read on to find out why Gareth Southgate is grinning like a simpleton and for 10 Things We Learned in the Premier League:

1. No one is unbeatable
Liverpool and Arsenal entered the weekend as the last two unbeaten teams in the Premiership, but came out the other end stripped of that boast. Liverpool went down 3-1 to Reading, while Arsenal lost 2-1 to… Middlesbrough? That’s right, an early penalty from Stewart “boo!” Downing (as England fans call him) and a narrow angle strike from Tuncay Şanlı (above with grinning boss Gareth Southgate) proved the Gunners are just like anybody else. Especially when Cesc Fabregas is missing.

2. Stephen Ireland is dangerous
His two footed flying tackle/karate kick on Spurs’ Young-pyo Lee was worth two red cards, maybe three. Ireland got his marching orders, and a minute later Jermain Defoe scored the winner for Spurs. So maybe there is justice in the universe after all.

3. Nicolas Anelka can’t take penalties
Bolton’s big name striker skied one over the bar from twelve yards out. Luckily Bolton were only playing Wigan, so they won 4-1 anyway.

4. Robert Green is the best English keeper around
He put in a fine display to keep Blackburn out of the net and secured the Hammers a 1-0 win.

5. Yakubu isn’t rubbish after all!
He’s been on and off at Everton, sometimes looking like an even more expensive James Beattie. But this week he was on with not just any old hat-trick, but a perfect hat-trick. One with his left, one with his right and one with his head.

6. Don’t give Sulley Muntari any space with his left foot
Villa learned this when the Portsmouth midfielder bent one in from distance in the 40th minute. Just to make sure, they learned it again in the 61st minute.

7. Rafa Benitez is a giver upper
With Liverpool chasing the game against Reading, Rafa raised the white flag and subbed off Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

8. Andriy Shevchenko isn’t finished, yet
With Drogba set for a long absence, it’s now or never for Sheva. The Ukrainian responded with a great headed finish against Sunderland. He didn’t do a lot else and it was only Sunderland, but it’s a start. According to my calculations he still has about twenty nine million pounds worth of transfer fee still to pay off.

9. Carlos Tevez only needs two chances to score
Carlitos absolutely whiffed one when given a golden chance to score against Derby, but because Derby are the most generous team in the Premier League he got another chance immediately. And buried it.

10. Sam Allardyce hearts Habib Beye
With that footage of a Toon fan singing “you don’t what you’re doing” to Big Sam Allardyce in heavy rotation on Sky Sports, the Newcastle boss needed a win against Birmingham. He got it when his Senegalese summer signing Habib Beye headed home in injury time. Big Sam lives to chew gum another day.