Lessons From the Premiership 10.28.07

By: Daryl | October 28th, 2007

Southgate after another defeat

Two drubbings in the Premiership this weekend. Chelsea’s 6-0 win over Manchester City came as a bit of a shock, especially to anyone wearing sky blue. But Middlesbough’s 4-1 embarrassment at the hands of Manchester United was sadly predictable, and Gareth Southgate must be counting the days until he’s called into Steve Gibson’s office for “a friendly chat” and comes out without a job. Meanwhile Liverpool and Arsenal remained unbeaten with an entertaining 1-1 draw at Anfield, which leaves Manchester United and Arsenal already eying up an exciting title battle.

Here are this weeks lessons from the Premiership.

Even Premiership footballers can miss open goals
This weekend no less than three highly paid professional footballers missed an open goal. No keeper, no defenders, ball in front of them but no goal. The unlucky three, in ascending order of how bad the miss was: Nobby Solano (diving header) Cesc Fabregas (came at him fast) David Healy (no excuse.)

Juande Ramos has his work cut out
The poor fella was at White Hart Lane to see his new players lose to a team containing Robbie Savage.

Sven still has no Plan B
4-4-2, two banks of four, hope your best player (in this case Elano Blumer) comes up with something good. Remind you of any of Sven’s recent teams? If that fails then get ready for a 6-0 thrashing, because the playbook only has one page.

Gareth Southgate should lace his boots up again
Jonny Woodgate looking a shadow of his former self in a shaky Middlesbrough back four, that needs reinforcements, stat. The transfer window is closed until January, and Southgate probably doesn’t have that long. His best option might be to get his boots out of the closet and show his defenders how it’s done.

Jamie Carragher is immune to referees
After dragging Joleon Lescott to the floor last week and getting away with it, Carra had two incidents in the game against Arsenal. He elbowed Kolo Toure and got away with it, and later seeming to pull Fabregas in the area. But if it’s possible to make your own luck then that’s what this man is doing. He was absolutely rock solid at the heart of Liverpool’s defence.

No more penalties for Mwaruwari Benjani
The Portsmouth striker got an earful from Harry Redknapp after fluffing a 94th minute penalty in the 0-0 draw with West Ham. The Hammers Danny Gabbidon handled on the edge of the area and when the penalty was awarded, Benjani refused to let either Niko Kranjcar or Suli Muntari take it, then he shuffled up and gave Robert Green a fairly easy shot to save. Got to love Harry’s post match quote:

“I gave him a bollocking. He won’t be taking another one, that’s for sure. He took the ball off Niko Kranjcar, who I would’ve been happy to see take it. Benji’s been on a good run. But I gave him a bollocking. And I would’ve still given him a bollocking if he’d scored. Still, he worked his socks off. And, well, I do love him. And now I feel bad. I said to him in the dressing room, ‘Benji, you’ve been a silly boy,’ and he just sat there. Now I do really feel bad. He probably won’t eat his fish and chips now, will he?”