A couple months ago I had a conversation how soccer games rarely end 2-2. Was there any science behind this statement? Obviously not.
A lot of this theory likely has to do is when a team goes ahead either 2-1 or 2-0, depending on the time, the opponent usually tends to mail in the rest of the match. So in that regard if you were tuned into Fox Soccer Channel on Sunday the white elephant 2-2 scoreline showed up twice -- Fulham 2, Chelsea 2 and Blackburn 2, Manchester City 2.
The Blackburn/City result was a rare stunner. Even the match commentator (name escapes me, Alan Parry?) wrote off the game and over-and-done when Jason Roberts scored inside of 10 minutes remaining to put the home side ahead 2-0. Nine times of out 10, he's right -- game over. Against type, instead of giving up, City fought back behind substitute Nathan Sturridge, while Blackburn essentially checked off and assumed -- like everyone else -- the three points were in the bag.
So let's simply issue a call to warning to all Premier League announcers -- please refrain from using the phrase "Surely this must be xxx" after a goal unless it comes in the final throes of injury time. Haven't we seen a final second fight-back goal just about every week this campaign? (Again, not science.)
Fulham kept up a run of nine-games unbeaten when American Clint Dempsey headed home to level Chelsea 2-2 at Craven Cottage and ipso facto, put Liverpool ahead by four points heading into 2009 and the FA Cup break.
How Chelsea didn't have a player on the back post -- especially when Dempsey's first goal came at the far post via a Simon Davies freekick -- is hard to believe. Isn't that tactics 101 in protecting a one-goal lead in the final minute?
Credit to Dempsey, though, with a fine looping effort. Let's, as USMNT fans, hope that Dempsey's newly found discipline under Roy Hodgson carries over to the busy 2009 fixture list for the U.S. Dempsey has never seemed to have a set position, but now at Fulham he's a contributor even when he doesn't find the net, playing a more complete role up top.
Fantasy team 'o the week (so far) -- Nicholas Mulch's Prussians & Pistols already has 56 points in the bank thanks to Frank the Tank and Mikel Arteta.
Midway Madness
As is rote, it says I must write a midterm recap type thing or have my license revoked. So here it goes...
Getting back to the Blackburn/City result, coupled with West Brom beating Tottenham 2-0, the bottom half of the table, nay, the entire table is all kinds of crazy. How about Crazy Dogggs kind of crazy. (T-minus one months for new Conchords, nice.)
Let's take the surprising run of Fulham. The Cottages (with a game in hand) are nine points from a place in the Champions League, yet they're also only six points from 18th and eight from the bottom. Suffice to say, all it's going to take is one poor run of form or one good run to get relegated or survive.
When you couple in the credit crisis and the financial difference between Premiership and Championship, the next five months are going to literally become a life-and-death struggle for all but say the Big Four (and Arsenal). Speaking of Arsenal, the Gunners salvaged a 1-0 win over Portsmouth and I do mean salvaged. How did Emmanuel Adebayor miss the open goal in the first half when David James moronically came off his line? (Also, that James for England No. 1 talk should officially be dead, Calamity is back.)
Maybe this is why there are so many last-minute fight-backs?
I planned on listing the storylines to watch for the rest of the season, but there is only one -- the relegation maelstrom. To wit, could a so-called 'big' club plummet and become the next Leeds United? (Cough, cough Spurs, cough) Will the promoted teams survive? Can Hull City remain in the Top 10 (FYI, the Tigers have allowed the most goals in the league yet are currently 8th position.)
The title chase will be fun, too, to see if Liverpool can actually play from out front of the pack or if the looming shadows of Manchester United and Chelsea will make the Anfield cookie crumble.
Other storylines
* Can Aston Villa fend off Arsenal for fourth place?
* Or how about can Arsenal fend off suddenly on-fire Everton for fifth?
* Will Arsene Wenger open up the change purse and buy a veteran player for the next couple months with Cesc Fabregas shelved?
* Are Wigan and Fulham going to Europe?
* Even if it's the Europa Cup?
* Will the financial mess cost Portsmouth and West Ham their Prem League status, or even existence?
* Are we going to see a massive sell-off in three days, or in six months?
* Who will be the next Premmer in a sex scandal?
* Will Manchester City land its world superstar or have to 'settle' for a Marcos Senna type (though that would be a perfect move)?
* Will Newcastle have another manager or at least another Joe Kinnear meltdown?
* Where will Michael Owen care up...if anyone even cares any more?
* Will we end up seeing four English teams in the Champions League semifinals?
* Are Manchester United -- with two games in hand -- lying in the weeds waiting to pounce?
* Something has to be brewing at Chelsea, but what?
* Liverpool, really?
Half season's superlatives
* Best team -- Liverpool, the table doesn't lie, does it?
* Worst team -- Blackburn, at least West Brom didn't get its manager fired.
* Best surprise -- Hull City, by default. Who, like me, didn't have the Tigers pegged for 20th?
* Worst surprise -- Manchester City's floundering. Yes, considering the table City could still make Europe. You'd think with the addition of Robinho and manager Mark Hughes the team would be better. Something is seriously askew when a team is 13th in the league (two above the drop) with a positive 8 goal difference.
* Best hair -- Maroune Fellani, fear the 'fro.
* Worst hair -- Wayne Rooney. The shaved head was the stuff of nightmares. Fact.
* Best teamwork -- Djibril Cisse and Kenwyne Jones dancehall post-goal boogie for Sudnerland.
* Worst teamwork -- Ricardo Fuller for his slap to Andy Griffin, the club captain, on for Stoke on Sunday.
Half season best XI
Goalkeeper -- Manuel Almunia, Arsenal. The Spaniard is much-maligned, but he's made a lot of impressive and important saves to keep the Gunners in hailing distance of the title. (Runner up: Pepe Reina, solid if no spectacular.)
Left back -- Gretar Steinsson, Bolton. Icelander started all 20 games for a semi-decent Bolton team. (Runner up: Alvaro Arbeloa, Liverpool, has made 17 starts which counts for something under Rafa.)
Center back -- Breda Hangelaad, Fulham. Beat Arsenal with a goal. Big reason why Cottagers have only 14 league goals.
Center back -- Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United. Perhaps the one Manchester United player in the midst of a career season. (Runners up: Jamie Carragher, Liverpool, his usual stellar self; Martin Laursen, Aston Villa, not as many goals but better defensively.)
Right back -- Jose Bosingwa, Chelsea. When he's on his game, Chelsea usually wins. (Runner up: Michael Turner, Hull City, not as 'classy' as Bosingwa but possibly better.)
Left midfield -- Ashley Young, Aston Villa. Did anyone think he'd be this good after moving from Watford...and no not talking about his sex antics. (Runner up: Samir Nasri, Arsenal, another guy who when he's on his team usually wins.)
Center midfield -- Steven Gerrard, Liverpool. The once and forever King of the Scousers.
Central midfield -- Mikel Arteta, Everton. If there was an true Most Valuable Player award, he should always win it, or at least finish second to his cross city rival Gerrard. (Runners up: Frank Lampard, Chelsea, a coin flip between him and Arteta. Since this is my list, I go with the player I like. Sorry. ... Gareth Barry, Aston Villa. Boring pick, I know.)
Right midfielder -- Stephen Ireland, Manchester City. Who knew he was this good? Guess making up fake stories about your grandmother has its advantages. (Runner up: Dirk Kuyt, Liverpool. Tireless.)
Forward: Niclas Anelka, Chelsea. Your goal-scoring leader, at the moment, with 14. Still, Chelsea seem more dangerous with Didier Drogba out there up top.
Forward: Amir Zaki, Wigan. Still near the top of the goal-scoring table and Wigan are in seventh place at the time of this post. (Runners up: Gabby Agbonlahor, Aston Villa, he and Young have second careers in porn, for sure if this goal scoring thing doesn't work out. ... Cristiano Ronaldo, Mancehster United, not like last season but still won a few games for United by his lonesome.)
Manager: Roy Hodgson, Fulham. Someone has molded a very sound squad from very average players.
That's about all I could think of on short notice. Happy New Year.
A lot of this theory likely has to do is when a team goes ahead either 2-1 or 2-0, depending on the time, the opponent usually tends to mail in the rest of the match. So in that regard if you were tuned into Fox Soccer Channel on Sunday the white elephant 2-2 scoreline showed up twice -- Fulham 2, Chelsea 2 and Blackburn 2, Manchester City 2.
The Blackburn/City result was a rare stunner. Even the match commentator (name escapes me, Alan Parry?) wrote off the game and over-and-done when Jason Roberts scored inside of 10 minutes remaining to put the home side ahead 2-0. Nine times of out 10, he's right -- game over. Against type, instead of giving up, City fought back behind substitute Nathan Sturridge, while Blackburn essentially checked off and assumed -- like everyone else -- the three points were in the bag.
So let's simply issue a call to warning to all Premier League announcers -- please refrain from using the phrase "Surely this must be xxx" after a goal unless it comes in the final throes of injury time. Haven't we seen a final second fight-back goal just about every week this campaign? (Again, not science.)
Fulham kept up a run of nine-games unbeaten when American Clint Dempsey headed home to level Chelsea 2-2 at Craven Cottage and ipso facto, put Liverpool ahead by four points heading into 2009 and the FA Cup break.
How Chelsea didn't have a player on the back post -- especially when Dempsey's first goal came at the far post via a Simon Davies freekick -- is hard to believe. Isn't that tactics 101 in protecting a one-goal lead in the final minute?
Credit to Dempsey, though, with a fine looping effort. Let's, as USMNT fans, hope that Dempsey's newly found discipline under Roy Hodgson carries over to the busy 2009 fixture list for the U.S. Dempsey has never seemed to have a set position, but now at Fulham he's a contributor even when he doesn't find the net, playing a more complete role up top.
Fantasy team 'o the week (so far) -- Nicholas Mulch's Prussians & Pistols already has 56 points in the bank thanks to Frank the Tank and Mikel Arteta.
Midway Madness
As is rote, it says I must write a midterm recap type thing or have my license revoked. So here it goes...
Getting back to the Blackburn/City result, coupled with West Brom beating Tottenham 2-0, the bottom half of the table, nay, the entire table is all kinds of crazy. How about Crazy Dogggs kind of crazy. (T-minus one months for new Conchords, nice.)
Let's take the surprising run of Fulham. The Cottages (with a game in hand) are nine points from a place in the Champions League, yet they're also only six points from 18th and eight from the bottom. Suffice to say, all it's going to take is one poor run of form or one good run to get relegated or survive.
When you couple in the credit crisis and the financial difference between Premiership and Championship, the next five months are going to literally become a life-and-death struggle for all but say the Big Four (and Arsenal). Speaking of Arsenal, the Gunners salvaged a 1-0 win over Portsmouth and I do mean salvaged. How did Emmanuel Adebayor miss the open goal in the first half when David James moronically came off his line? (Also, that James for England No. 1 talk should officially be dead, Calamity is back.)
Maybe this is why there are so many last-minute fight-backs?
I planned on listing the storylines to watch for the rest of the season, but there is only one -- the relegation maelstrom. To wit, could a so-called 'big' club plummet and become the next Leeds United? (Cough, cough Spurs, cough) Will the promoted teams survive? Can Hull City remain in the Top 10 (FYI, the Tigers have allowed the most goals in the league yet are currently 8th position.)
The title chase will be fun, too, to see if Liverpool can actually play from out front of the pack or if the looming shadows of Manchester United and Chelsea will make the Anfield cookie crumble.
Other storylines
* Can Aston Villa fend off Arsenal for fourth place?
* Or how about can Arsenal fend off suddenly on-fire Everton for fifth?
* Will Arsene Wenger open up the change purse and buy a veteran player for the next couple months with Cesc Fabregas shelved?
* Are Wigan and Fulham going to Europe?
* Even if it's the Europa Cup?
* Will the financial mess cost Portsmouth and West Ham their Prem League status, or even existence?
* Are we going to see a massive sell-off in three days, or in six months?
* Who will be the next Premmer in a sex scandal?
* Will Manchester City land its world superstar or have to 'settle' for a Marcos Senna type (though that would be a perfect move)?
* Will Newcastle have another manager or at least another Joe Kinnear meltdown?
* Where will Michael Owen care up...if anyone even cares any more?
* Will we end up seeing four English teams in the Champions League semifinals?
* Are Manchester United -- with two games in hand -- lying in the weeds waiting to pounce?
* Something has to be brewing at Chelsea, but what?
* Liverpool, really?
Half season's superlatives
* Best team -- Liverpool, the table doesn't lie, does it?
* Worst team -- Blackburn, at least West Brom didn't get its manager fired.
* Best surprise -- Hull City, by default. Who, like me, didn't have the Tigers pegged for 20th?
* Worst surprise -- Manchester City's floundering. Yes, considering the table City could still make Europe. You'd think with the addition of Robinho and manager Mark Hughes the team would be better. Something is seriously askew when a team is 13th in the league (two above the drop) with a positive 8 goal difference.
* Best hair -- Maroune Fellani, fear the 'fro.
* Worst hair -- Wayne Rooney. The shaved head was the stuff of nightmares. Fact.
* Best teamwork -- Djibril Cisse and Kenwyne Jones dancehall post-goal boogie for Sudnerland.
* Worst teamwork -- Ricardo Fuller for his slap to Andy Griffin, the club captain, on for Stoke on Sunday.
Half season best XI
Goalkeeper -- Manuel Almunia, Arsenal. The Spaniard is much-maligned, but he's made a lot of impressive and important saves to keep the Gunners in hailing distance of the title. (Runner up: Pepe Reina, solid if no spectacular.)
Left back -- Gretar Steinsson, Bolton. Icelander started all 20 games for a semi-decent Bolton team. (Runner up: Alvaro Arbeloa, Liverpool, has made 17 starts which counts for something under Rafa.)
Center back -- Breda Hangelaad, Fulham. Beat Arsenal with a goal. Big reason why Cottagers have only 14 league goals.
Center back -- Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United. Perhaps the one Manchester United player in the midst of a career season. (Runners up: Jamie Carragher, Liverpool, his usual stellar self; Martin Laursen, Aston Villa, not as many goals but better defensively.)
Right back -- Jose Bosingwa, Chelsea. When he's on his game, Chelsea usually wins. (Runner up: Michael Turner, Hull City, not as 'classy' as Bosingwa but possibly better.)
Left midfield -- Ashley Young, Aston Villa. Did anyone think he'd be this good after moving from Watford...and no not talking about his sex antics. (Runner up: Samir Nasri, Arsenal, another guy who when he's on his team usually wins.)
Center midfield -- Steven Gerrard, Liverpool. The once and forever King of the Scousers.
Central midfield -- Mikel Arteta, Everton. If there was an true Most Valuable Player award, he should always win it, or at least finish second to his cross city rival Gerrard. (Runners up: Frank Lampard, Chelsea, a coin flip between him and Arteta. Since this is my list, I go with the player I like. Sorry. ... Gareth Barry, Aston Villa. Boring pick, I know.)
Right midfielder -- Stephen Ireland, Manchester City. Who knew he was this good? Guess making up fake stories about your grandmother has its advantages. (Runner up: Dirk Kuyt, Liverpool. Tireless.)
Forward: Niclas Anelka, Chelsea. Your goal-scoring leader, at the moment, with 14. Still, Chelsea seem more dangerous with Didier Drogba out there up top.
Forward: Amir Zaki, Wigan. Still near the top of the goal-scoring table and Wigan are in seventh place at the time of this post. (Runners up: Gabby Agbonlahor, Aston Villa, he and Young have second careers in porn, for sure if this goal scoring thing doesn't work out. ... Cristiano Ronaldo, Mancehster United, not like last season but still won a few games for United by his lonesome.)
Manager: Roy Hodgson, Fulham. Someone has molded a very sound squad from very average players.
That's about all I could think of on short notice. Happy New Year.
Labels: Monday recaps, Prem League, Soccer
Was I right or was I right about Fulham? They wont lose till Jan. They will make Europe due to Fair Play rules.
Joe Kinnear is outraged at your overlooking of his 'oldest-in-the-Prem' mullet.
Do not disrespect the mullet.
Given is best GK, btw. Did you not see the first 30 mins of the Liverpool game? He had the commentators giggling he was so good.
Brad...you're right about Given. Sort of like Iker Casillas, in that he sees a ton of shots due to a shoddy defense.
Hasn't Carragher scored 2 own goals this season? If I remember correctly, his gaffes have physically cost the team points. That still may not disqualify him from the best XI, but what does that tell you?
Although I'm not a Villa fan, I think Luke Young and James Milner deserve a shout out. Luke Young seems less showy than Ireland, but Ireland seems is just streaky and he's on a good run of form lately. Boswinga is definitely feast or famine. Still, better than Cole any day.
For manager, you gotta give some love to Steve Bruce. He's master of the results on a budget and he's just not been as lucky this year.