Tale at the top takes a familiar turn
And then there were two. Another late show at Old Trafford added to another comfortable win at the Bridge ensures that it’s the usual suspects who occupy the top spots as the Premier League enters the home stretch.
There has been enough ink spilled and blogs filled lamenting the torture of Arsene Wenger so let’s gloss over the Gunners’ latest tragedy and take a leaf from le Prof’s book: we didn’t see it.
That said, if Wenger cannot see how he needs to radically change the makeup of his back four and change Arsenal’s attitude, then I really do fear for his eyesight.
Chelsea were boosted by a Fernando Torres goal, United were aided by a Javier Hernandez one. Just as the Mexican’s 19th goal of the season does not quite confirm that he is world class (yet), was the Spaniard’s drought a sign that he was waning? This particular tale of two strikers needs another 12 months to become clear.
What is crystal is that Chelsea are now the only team that can stop United. Their clash at Old Trafford decides it all.
Arsene will be watching.
Old Firm – full of sound and fury, and then nothing
The chants, the noise, the colour, the fervour. It was all on display yesterday as Rangers and Celtic clashed for the 47th time this season.
The game was the standard derby fare, frantic, full of incident and lacking in quality. The 0-0 draw was the right result despite Celtic missing a penalty.
They are now marginal favourites to clinch the SPL in what is Neil Lennon’s first full season as a manger. It would be a substantial achievement for the Northern Ireland man. Not for coming first in a two-horse race but for maintaining his focus during a period where he has been tested like no other manager with death threats, bullets in the post and parcel bombs.
For all his declarations of Celtic being a once in a lifetime job, you would have to think he would jump at the chance to follow his countryman, Martin O’Neill, and make the move south. If titles are the norm in paradise, he won’t have to wait long for some job offers in the mail.
Nightmare looms into view for Bayern
Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenburger writing in his excellent book on German football, Tor!, explains that “it’s hard to pinpoint when people began viewing Bayern as evil incarnate but what is certain is that it happened a lot earlier than it is generally believed.” He then describes tales of Beckenbauer, Maier et al. having exits blocked off by fans and Maier himself flooring a fan during a brawl.
Bayern are the evil empire in Germany and don’t the rebels love sticking it to them when they struggle.
The Champions League final is at Bayern’s Allianz Arena next year. It is a stadium I have not been lucky enough to visit but it does look impressive on T.V, glowing like a giant Michelin man in the heart of Bavaria.
So Bayern will have the chance to lord it over the rest of Germany next year by trying to win the big one in Munich. Or will they? A costly 1-1 draw away to Eintracht Frankfurt leaves them a point adrift of the Champions League standings with games fast running out.
It is an unthinkable prospect for the Munich hierarchy to contemplate missing out and a glorious one for the rest of Germany.
The Empire has three games to strike back.
Revenge Rotterdam style for Feyenoord
The Watercooler apologises for neglecting the Eredivise up until this point. It is merely a scheduling issue.
Sandwiched between the Old Firm and Bolton against Arsenal on Sunday was PSV against Feyenoord. The De Kuip stadium was rocking and with good reason. Feyenoord’s 3-1 win over PSV ended Einthoven’s slim chance in the championship and gained revenge for the preceding fixture last October when PSV trounced them 10-0.
Some PSV fans held up ten fingers at full-time. I saw dozens of Feyenoord’s fans respond with one; the middle one.
Weekend cult hero: Adel Tarrabt (QPR)
Coming to a Premier League ground near you soon. The Moroccan magician conjured another piece of magic on Saturday to keep QPR on track for promotion to the big time.
A bit moody? Check.
A bit brilliant? Check.
An ego bigger than David Luiz’s hair? Check.
Capable of being shackled by Robbie Savage? Unfortunately check, but he does stuff like this, so we’ll forgive him.
