In a double game-week in the Barclays Premier League we witnessed two derbies, the end of an unwanted record, shining English talents and yet another managerial departure, all in a week’s work in the Premier League. Sky and BT have announced new rights to show the Premier league till 2019 amounting to over £5 billion, so now the Premier League teams must really put the money where their mouths are.
PAUL LAMBERT SACKED
After an inexcusable run of results, Paul Lambert was relieved from his post at Villa Park on Wednesday. In 25 games, Lambert’s men had tallied up a measly 12 goals which is a shocking statistic considering they boast a quick, young and talented frontline of Andi Weimann, Christian Benteke and Gabby Agbonlahor. An unbeaten start in their first four games had led Villa fans into a false sense of security as they crumbled after defeat to Arsenal. Villa went nearly 3 months without a win in the league after that, scoring just three goals in that time. Benteke inspired back-to-back wins with his return from injury only for things to go downhill again. December 7th their last Premier League win with only victories over Championship opposition in the FA Cup to show for since. Villa went seven and a half games without scoring from the New Year till February 7th when Jores Okore breached the Chelsea net. When your top scorer in all competitions has amassed four goals, you know there are problems somewhere in the club. Benteke has struggled particularly to score goals with only three to show for this season, whilst top scorer Weimann hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since November. Lambert has had limited funding from owner Randy Lerner who has made his intentions with the club clear that until he sells, funding will be limited. Despite this, Lambert has a good squad of players but the style of football and constant injury problems has led to anxiety and anger within groups of fans. A spine of Brad Guzan, Ron Vlaar, Fabian Delph and Benteke is a good one which should see Villa trying to push into the European mix from mid-table not fighting off impending relegation trouble. But defeat to Hull, a team fighting their own troubles off at the bottom, was the final straw in a game which fired yet another blank for Villa. 10 league games without a win and a record of 92 goals in his 101 league games, Lambert really was in a position where the sack was a foregone conclusion. Villa need someone who can motivate and lift the side who are in desperate need now where things can only really get better.
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| Credit: thesportspace.org |
Premier League
Every fan of every football team immediately looks out for derby day or a match against bitter rivals as soon as the fixture lists were released. So, when the games on the 27th September and 7th February came out, all fans of Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal and Spurs were bookmarking it in calendars, phones and diaries if that’s what you do. Last weekend was ‘Derby Weekend’. Spurs hosted Arsenal with both on good runs of form, both with just one defeat in eight and six wins in that time. Everton had ended a run of six without a win with victory at Crystal Palace whilst Liverpool were on a seven game unbeaten run, picking three straight wins going into a trip over Stanley Park. Spurs had not won a North London Derby since 2013 when Gareth Bale scored in a 2-1 win, so Arsenal went into this with a psychological edge, especially after racking five goals past Villa the week before. But, they may have underestimated Spurs and Harry Kane. Kane was the top Premier League scorer in all competitions after a double at West Brom took him to 18 goals, more than Aguero, more than Diego Costa and more than Alexis Sanchez. In Kane they boasted one of the hottest talents in the country who was playing in his first Derby. Arsenal had scored inside two minutes when they last visited Spurs, this time they took 11 minutes to beat Hugo Lloris. A swift break led brilliantly by Danny Welbeck ended with Mesut Ozil volleying over Lloris as the away fans went into raptures. However, Spurs controlled the rest of the game with possession, chances and territory. David Ospina continually thwarted Spurs until he flapped a corner to the feet of, Kane. His first goal in the derby brought a deserved equaliser and led a rally from Spurs for a winner. Then, when Nabil Bentaleb picked the main man out, he excellently guided the header into the top corner to win the game for Spurs. Arsenal were dejected as Derby Day belonged to Spurs. The Merseyside Derby was less action-packed but the spotlight was on Steven Gerrard as he played his last derby. Gerrard very nearly wrote his script by scoring but his superb overhead kick went just over. Jordan Ibe lit up Goodison in his first derby after a promising loan spell at Derby as he rattled the post from a solo run and shot. Ross Barkley entered the fray and nearly set up a winner for Seamus Coleman but Simon Mignolet came to the rescue. Another stalemate in the battle of the Mersey duo means Everton seem to be turning a corner with an impressive defensive display.
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| Credit: ibtimes.com |
Elsewhere, Manchester City faltered in their pursuit of Chelsea by having to rescue a point against Hull City but reacted by turning on the style in a 4-1 win at Stoke. Chelsea have pulled seven points clear with wins over Villa and Everton as Jose Mourinho’s mean look unstoppable. It was the end of a miserable away run for QPR as caretaker bosses Chris Ramsey and Kevin Bond managed to topple Sunderland and end the winless travels. Southampton and Manchester United maintain top four places with Sadio Mane delivering a goal in the nick of time at Loftus Road. United were saved by Daley Blind’s volley after some ‘direct tactics’, is that okay Louis? Leicester continued to rue bad luck with valiant performances in defeats to Crystal Palace and Arsenal and it seems Nigel Pearson is feeling the heat after his shocking outburst at Palace’s Jason McArthur. The stand-out tie of the midweek games was at Anfield as the ever controversial Mario Balotelli finally scored a Premier League goal in a five-goal thriller where Liverpool held off two fight-backs from Spurs. The top four fight looks to be the tightest in Premier League history as up to six teams are vying for just two spots, the promised land of the Champions League is awaiting.
Sam Tonks
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