Last Team Standing
Well, we can all agree with the fact that this EPL season is as good as over after Liverpool's loss against Chelsea. Chelsea have a mighty 21-point lead over the Kop and a 15-point lead over their nearest rivals ManUtd. And, Arsenal and their eternal rivals Tottenham are set to fight it out for the last Champions League berth.
Chelsea still seems to be smarting over their Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool last season and have completed a double over them in the league for two consecutive season. However, Robben's oscar-winning performance as a man seriously injured while earning Reina a red card brought out the humourous facet in Rafa Benitez, who after the match, suggested he may have to visit the hospital to see if Robben had recovered.
It's shameful to see such play-acting from players to earn their rivals bookings. It's imperative that referees weed out such things from happening ever again by being a bit more rational. The only way it to book players who resort to such shameful tactics.
Meanwhile, Sol Campbell walked out on his team after being substituted in their match against West Ham. Agreed that he had lots on his mind and he himself knew his blunders led to the 2 goals their rivals scored, but being an international and a veteran player, he could have acted in a much more sensible fashion. I don't know why, but these days I do not enjoy seeing Arsenal lose as I used to earlier. It's probably because I have begun to dislike Chelsea more because they are buying their way to glory.
Barcelona' unbeaten run came to a halt as they were beaten at home by Athletico Madrid. They are linked with a move for Anton Ferdinand in the summer. Looks like they have finally realized Puyol needs a better partner in the central defence. I amactually relieved that Barca lost because they needed to come out of their complacency especially when they are set to play Chelsea in two weeks. Real Madrid are beginning to find their form and that is not good news for struggling Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Juventus is still setting the pace in Serie A and have a good lead at the top of the table. AC Milan is likely to sack its coach Ancelotti at the end of this season as they have been struggling in third position and are unlikely to win the Scudetto. Also, I do not see them overcoming Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Chelsea still seems to be smarting over their Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool last season and have completed a double over them in the league for two consecutive season. However, Robben's oscar-winning performance as a man seriously injured while earning Reina a red card brought out the humourous facet in Rafa Benitez, who after the match, suggested he may have to visit the hospital to see if Robben had recovered.
It's shameful to see such play-acting from players to earn their rivals bookings. It's imperative that referees weed out such things from happening ever again by being a bit more rational. The only way it to book players who resort to such shameful tactics.
Meanwhile, Sol Campbell walked out on his team after being substituted in their match against West Ham. Agreed that he had lots on his mind and he himself knew his blunders led to the 2 goals their rivals scored, but being an international and a veteran player, he could have acted in a much more sensible fashion. I don't know why, but these days I do not enjoy seeing Arsenal lose as I used to earlier. It's probably because I have begun to dislike Chelsea more because they are buying their way to glory.
Barcelona' unbeaten run came to a halt as they were beaten at home by Athletico Madrid. They are linked with a move for Anton Ferdinand in the summer. Looks like they have finally realized Puyol needs a better partner in the central defence. I amactually relieved that Barca lost because they needed to come out of their complacency especially when they are set to play Chelsea in two weeks. Real Madrid are beginning to find their form and that is not good news for struggling Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Juventus is still setting the pace in Serie A and have a good lead at the top of the table. AC Milan is likely to sack its coach Ancelotti at the end of this season as they have been struggling in third position and are unlikely to win the Scudetto. Also, I do not see them overcoming Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
posted by Lucas @ 12:03 AM
7 Comments:
Seeing a team you hate being defeated would be enjoyable only if it happens once in a blue moon. The element of pleasant surprise goes missing if the team u hate loses regularly. Very true with the erstwhile mercurial Arsenal.As a person, who is simply amazed with Chelsea's efficiency and their non-strikers' surgeon-like precision in front of goal, I think people(including me) would like to see Chelsea lose atleast once a while, maybe some kind of sadistic pleasure.
Coming to Real Madrid, they're finally looking like playing as a team. And once they add the element of consistency to it, even a leaky madrid defence will not save the opponents' the blushes.
So much for Real's revival. Zaragoza is doing a 'David' by beating 'Goliaths' Barcelona(4-2) and the much-hyped Real(6-1) in successive stages. Arsenal, very much in the hunt. Real is still not out of the woods.
U probably dont enjoy seeing arsenal lose like before is maybe bcos the gunners lose more often now....
Surprised to see Real getting mauled like that...Milito is definitely one to watch out for in the WC in case he is selected.
Looks like Hleb's Arsenal career is over...it seems he wants to move to Hamburg.
Yeah, the EPL is all but over.
The issue of Robbens play acting reminds of v.Nistelrooys actions which had Vieira sent off in OT in 2003. I remember even Vieira being booked once for diving when there was no one even tackling him. That was shameful. Part of the game these days with pressure on results.
Arsenal losing is both good news and bad news. Good news because they are Arsenal. Bad news becasue they were the only team in the EPL playing attractive football with their one-touch passing style. With them losing regularly, Wenger may be forced to curb their attcking flair for results, which is the loss for EPL fans. But it seems inevitable now. Things could get even more boring.
In terms of the CL, none of the four teams seem to be in the best of form. Barca and Real have lost heavily recently while Arsenal's case is well known. Chelsea are still gettting decent results but the goals have dried up. The Everton match may give them a boost though.
Ancelotti sacking is a foregone conclusion. That he is still there is a mystery. Juve continue with their Chelsea-like boring football to keep their lead.Bayern are a mystery package. Well capable of beating most teams both and away. But depends which team turns up on the day. Makaay hasnt been in good form of late.
Aja.
I'm not sure any club would be willing to take Hleb for the money Arsneal splashed on him. More so,in case of Hamburg who were at their mean best when snapping someone like van der Vaart for as low as 3 Million. Maybe Wenger has to advertise something like "Hleb and Reyes,Two for the price of 1". Both Bentley and Reyes came at the sametime to Arsenal. While Reyes has been given so much opportunities to prove worth to no avail, Bentley was hardly given a game. He did well in his loan spell@Norwich and his career@Blackburn could not have got off to a better start. Wenger clearly missed the chance to produce Arsenal's answer to Joe Cole of Chelsea.
Wenger will become conservative like many other EPL coaches to grind out results and it's definitely not good for England like Aja said.Emergence of teams like Bolton only signifies a shift in EPL towards the Italian methodical football rather than the flamboyant and inventive approach of Spain/Latin America.
Absolutely right Aja! As Aja rightly pointed out, Bayern seems to be the mystery package in Europe...they are capable of beating any big team but are likewise capable of losing heavily in their away legs, which might be their undoing. It's going to take a lot to find a suitable replacement when Ballack leaves since he seems to be the consistent performer in sometimes a lacklustre team.
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