Right, this'll be a quickie as we've got more on Monday............
Manchester
United Vs Stoke City: The walking dead trample a feeble
United..........
It wasn't looking like being a good Christmas for Van Gaal. With
confidence in his team at an all-time low and confidence in him
essentially gone he really needed a solid performance, or a scrappy
win, against a Stoke team that, while riding high with confidence,
haven't exactly been banging them in with merry abandon. In fact,
Stoke started this match among the lowest-scorers in the league so it
was hoped that a brittle United defence wouldn't be tested too much
or, if it was, De Gea should be more than able for whatever gets
thrown at them. Van Gaal took the unusual step of benching Rooney.
Unfortunately this meant fielding Fellaini as the focus point for
Martial and Depay to run off him. Stoke are looking to really stamp
their authority on the bigger teams to assert the transformation
they've undergone and to let people know that they're a force to be
reckoned with for anybody. The first half started off quite well in
that regard. While United kept most of the possession (naturally)
they never seemed to be able to do anything with it and got quite
desperate at times to force something to happen. Stoke looked
dangerous on the break and with Johnson bossing the right flank just
behind Shaquiri, it was obvious the Swiss was set up to be the
orchestrator of their attack.
The
first half saw Stoke carve open the thin United defence (I would
mention the midfield but it was non-existent) which led directly to
the first goal in the 19th
minute. It was a total shambles. A harmless chip down the right flank
for Johnson to chase finds Memphis instead which he should clear. He
doesn't however, gets caught by Johnson, had his pocket picked and
Johnson is loose in the box. He squares across the goal for Krkic who
toe-pokes the ball through Jones' legs and into the goal. Stoke then
pour on the pressure and force the free kick in the 26th
which leads to the second goal. Krkic hits a freekick straight into
the wall, the ball bobbles to Arnautovic on the edge of the box, he
takes a touch and smashes it top left corner. The next chance falls
to Arnautovic again ten minutes later when he was put through
one-on-one and decides to shoot from distance. He drags his shot
fractionally wide with De Gea stranded. The half trickled out with
little more from either side. The second half saw the introduction of
Rooney and some fight to the United team. Outside of a gilt-edged
chance for Arnautovic which he scuffed by just falling over the
second half was mostly all United with Stoke pinned back and
defending stoutly. Only rarely did Stoke manage to foray into the
United half that was their hunting ground in the first half. But,
then again, they were two goals to the good and didn't need to go
all-out. Rooney presented more problems for the ref rather than
Butland. Fellani came very close with a shot that required a
fantastic reflex save from Butland. Martial stretched Butland towards
the end but united never really looked like scoring and were almost
hilariously vulnerable to any Stoke counter. United were feeble and
Van Gaal will be lucky to see out this year as Manager let alone the
season .He'll have Chelsea in three days to try to rescue his job.
Stoke will have Everton to contend with.
Aston
Villa Vs West Ham: Late Villa fightback claws them a much-needed
point....
Despite Villa extending their winless run to seventeen games now,
there will be something to take some hope from in their performance
today. Or, at least, in the last half hour anyway. Having fumbled
their way through the opening half and managing to concede just
before the break, the awarding and conversion of a penalty and the
glimpse of victory was enough to rouse the players into something
resembling a team. They now lie nine points clear at the bottom,
there nearest team, Norwich, are their next opponents on Monday. A
loss or draw there would surely cement relegation., even at this
early stage. West Ham will be left to rue the drop in form that comes
with losing most of your best players all at once. Without Sakho,
Lanzini and Payet they're reduced to looking for clean sheets and
grinding out results until the new year when their treatment room
will hopefully be empty.
The
hammers took the lead just on the stroke of half time when Cresswell
received the ball from Antonio, 20 yards out, and had all the time in
the world to tee up his excellent low shot. The second half featured
some controversial non-awards of penalties which, considering the one
that was
given, seem a trite bit unfair on second viewing. Villa pulled one
back when Ogbonna was judged to have pulled Gestede down in the box.
The replay shows that Ogbonna did not pull him down but rather
touched his back allowing Gestede to tumble to the turf like he'd
been shot. Ayew stepped up and converted the penalty to cap off his
fine performance in the game. Villa then got their act together and,
sensing West Ham were down, poured on the pressure for the winner. It
was not to be for them though. It's probably all too little too late
but, from the last half hour, the main problem at Villa seems to be a
lack of belief rather than ability. But it's make-or-break for them
now and there's no denying it. They simply have to win their next two
or they're screwed. Norwich will provide more of a challenge than
West Ham did as they're in roughly the same position as Villa are.
The Hammers have Southampton next and, after their result, won't be
looking forward to it as much as they were yesterday.
Bournemouth
Vs Crystal Palace: Scrappy but fun 0-0 draw keeps the Eagles flying
high....
This was always going to be a testing one for the Eagles. Shorn of
Wickham and Bolasie, their two main attacking threats, they were
forced to rely on their defence to bail them out. Which they did
admirably. The Palace back four were rock solid and Bournemouth could
only find their way through on scant occasions and even then they had
not much to work with. But it was only in defence that Palace could
claim the upper hand. Bournemouth, without the need to contain a
strong centre-forward, stuck to nullifying Palace's other main
attacking threat: the wingers, and it worked. Palace failed to
register a single shot on target, although they were unlucky not to
score in the ninth minute when Campbell's shot looped off Smith and
nearly caught the badly out-of-position Boruc. Fortunately it went
over.
Bournemouth were playing a little more care-free given they've won
three on the bounce until today, although it at times strayed into
care-less. Arter was lucky not to receive a red card after lunging in
late on Zaha and was subbed off at half-time. Their main focus seemed
to be stemming Palace's wide players, possibly in preparation for
Arsenal on Monday. Should they have this level of success at the
Emirates then they can foster hopes of something more than a rough
0-0 draw. Palace will need their replacement centre-forwards, Zaha
especially, to step up and provide the goals that will keep them
chasing a top five finish this season. They sit only two points
outside of the top four. They will find Swansea obdurate opponents on
Monday, no doubt, but should find the win easy enough. Bournemouth
will hope they can suffocate Arsenal as well as they did Palace
today.
Chelsea
Vs Watford: Oscar slips up as the hornets fight for the
point.............
If
Hiddink wanted a sign of times to come as the new Chelsea boss he
could not have gotten a more complete one than today. His side showed
the weaknesses that got his predecessor sacked and that will keep the
vultures circling the club for a while now and that are his priority
to eliminate. Watford will be thankful for the point but will be
mindful of the fact they only got it through sheer luck and will not
steam into any match such as this with the near reckless abandon they
showed today. While they can boast two in-form strikers and a robust
midfield, their defence showed a soft underbelly with hints of
headless turkey syndrome. Both teams today seemed to cancel one
another out rather than clash as each registered only two shots on
target apiece with two goals apiece also.
Indeed, after a good opening half hour Watford seemed to be enjoying
a decent spell when their marking went to shit as a Willian corner
was headed onto Costa. His volley, from little more than six yards
out, was crisp and he was gifted way too much time get the shot off.
They pulled one back when Matic handled a corner and conceded a
penalty. Chelsea can have no complaints other than to ask why the
fuck Matic was waving his arm around, like he was being electrocuted,
like that in the first place. Deeney converted and the first half
ended all square. The second half brought changes with Fabregas
getting hooked to prevent being tortured anymore by the Watford
midfield. It proved for naught as Watford pulled in front eleven
minutes after the restart with Jurado finding Ighalo in acres of
space near the Chelsea box. His shot spun off Cahill and wrong-footed
Courtois who could only look on as the ball looped into the net. Then
Watford let their good play go to waste by switching off again, nine
minutes later. Willian played a superb diagonal ball between the
sleeping centre-backs and Costa was first onto it. His goal spoke of
the Costa of last season when he drew Gomes out and slotted the ball
into the far corner. Then, with eleven minutes left, Berami steamed
into Hazard in the box, leaving the ref no choice but to point to the
spot. Up stepped Oscar who's deft staggering run probably did him no
favours as he slipped and skied the ball. Costa then bookended the
game by picking up his fifth yellow which will see him suspended for
next weeks game at Old Trafford, which will be serious test of
Hiddink and his new charges. Watford will take on Spurs knowing that
to play as recklessly as they did here, will leave them facing a
trouncing.
Liverpool
Vs Leicester City: Klopp finally starts a striker as Liverpool stop
the foxes.....
Looks like there's another way to beat Leicester then. Prior to this
the only way known was to out-gun them and hope your defence wasn't
too porous. Here, with the improbable combination of Lovren and
Sahko, Liverpool held firm and notched up a clean sheet against a
team that has scored in every game so far. Despite the win, Klopp
will not look on this result with rose-tinted glasses, it could've
ended so differently in more ways than one. It could've ended much
better were Liverpool able to convert any of the chances they were
gifted when the surprisingly lethargic Leicester defence failed to
close down anyone in front of goal. Coutinho, in particular, had two
chances curve narrowly wide and Lallana hit the side netting. It
could've also been worse had Mignolet not gotten to Mahrez's shot in
the first half. But overall Liverpool can be happy that their plan
worked and Leicester's didn't.
The plan was to use Leicester’s' readiness to cede possession
against them and work-rate the foxes into the ground while closing
off their counter-attack. While it didn't pan out as cut-and-dry as
that, it did see results as Leicester were unable to get anything
going until they went behind and had left themselves far too much to
do at that point. They absorbed nearly constant pressure until the
hour mark when their defence went to sleep for the only time and
Benteke latched onto a floated Firmino cross and smashed the volley
home. The ease at which Benteke, not exactly the smallest guy,
ghosted past and was left unmarked will be remarked about. Leicester
then roused themselves after that and tried one of their legendary
comebacks but, by now, they had been sussed out by the Liverpool
defence who gave them no quarter. Leicester laid siege to the
Liverpool box when, having sent Schmeichel up for a throw in, Benteke
was loosed clear on goal. With a completely empty net, fuck that he
had an empty half of the pitch, he somehow contrived to hit Morgan
instead for the most laughable miss in recent history. He was spared
his blushes by the full-time whistle moments later which confirmed
his goal, his sixth, was the match-winner. Leicester now have to
press on against City on Monday knowing they'll still be top by that
time. Liverpool have their just rewards against Sunderland and what
really should be three points.
Manchester
City Vs Sunderland: Pointless Sunderland get turned over at the
Etihad....
It's fair to say that Big Sam knew that he was going to have a tough
job of it at Sunderland. But he's been given repeated viewings of
just how bad the team is he's been given. Right now, the task of
keeping them up looks like bailing out a boat with a teaspoon.
Mannone was in goal today and it looks as if he's got a hoodoo
regarding City, he's started only two games and shipped four goals to
City each time. Sunderland started with a back four this time and did
no better than when they started with five, the defenders marked
poorly and committed nothing to the task of actually stopping the
opposition scoring goals, which was personified in the opening goal
when Sterling outjumped Jones, a man almost half a foot taller, to
nod home.
De Bruyne called the shots today and against opposition this abjectly
awful it's not hard to look good. Both his assists came from pretty
much the exact same spot on the right wing, and he scored the fourth
himself when a deflected Bony shot bounced straight to him. This game
also saw the return of Kompany, only for him to go off nine minutes
later with the exact same injury. Toure is showing signs that
contract negotiations are on the horizon as he's starting to actually
play again, he scored the third with another trademark 20-yarder and,
in all bar the recurrence of Kompany's injury and Borini's
consolation goal highlighting the shambles left behind in the injured
captain's absence, the match was the cake-walk we all expected it to
be. City will have more of a challenge next week against Leicester
and will need a win to try to take the lead in the three-way crush at
the top. Sunderland have bowed out of this match with barely a
whimper and will struggle to muster one against Liverpool.
Spurs
Vs Norwich: Spurs rout the Canaries to go top four.........
Spurs
fans are trying nervously to suppress the urge to claim themselves as
serious title contenders but there's no doubt they're certainly
favourites to finish top-four and enter the Champions league. Despite
routinely fielding the youngest team in the league, they've managed
to drum up a level of consistency that the other teams around them
would kill for. That they've also added the ability to kill off
lesser teams is the bonus that should see them in the top-tier of
European football next season. Today they faced a Norwich team filled
with pluck having yet to come down from a Euphoric win at Old
Trafford and looking to scalp another big team. And, until the 26th
minute at least, it looked like they'd do it.
Norwich
shuffled the team that soundly beat Manchester United by stacking the
midfield in an attempt to stifle the main avenue of the Spurs threat.
They also sought to isolate Kane and force him out of the game whilst
countering the Spurs' heavy press tactic with one of their own. For
the most part, it worked. Norwich were testing Lloris from as early
as the fifth minute with a curled shot from the edge of the box by
Ofoe. Unfortunately they failed to make their early dominance pay and
Spurs eventually stirred and their midfield clicked into life. On the
26th
Alli shifted past a number of defenders and played in Kane who tapped
it past Rudd and was promptly cleared out by the advancing keeper.
Kane stepped up himself to fire home the penalty. Then Spurs did not
so much as shift up a gear but rather shifted up an entire level and
Norwich never had a look in for the rest of the game. After a number
of near-misses Kane eventually added his second on the 42nd
when Alli fed the ball to him after a breakaway attack and Kane
stroked the ball in from a tough angle. The second saw Spurs take the
piss with rabona attempts and bicycle kicks, clearly not giving a
fuck and loving it. Norwich's misery was compounded when Lloris made
a superb save and Carroll fired home the third from outside the box,
swerving the ball into the bottom corner. Spurs are now on the march
and have another team with moxie to beat, Watford. Norwich have the
ideal team to lick their wounds against as they play Aston Villa.
Swansea
Vs West Brom: Swans out of the relegation zone with a scrappy
win.........
Swansea
lifted themselves out of the quagmire with a win today that bore no
hallmarks of their previous winning form. Not that they'll give a
shit if anyone is being honest. Three points are all they wanted from
this and they'll savour the ends regardless of the means. Another
plus point from this game is the new-found solidity in defence
organised around Williams. He's been a bedrock in the last three
games, helping them not to concede the idiotic goals that were
routine only a month ago. For West Brom this leaves them only two
points above their opponents today and not facing a particularly
happy Christmas schedule.
A well-taken ninth minute goal by Ki ended up settling the match.
Routeledge sliding the ball into the box for Rangel to run onto it
and smashing a shot off the post. Myhill couldn't react in time to
prevent the ball ricocheting off his elbow and out of his grasp. Ki
was less than three yards away and tapped home. West Brom couldn't
find a way back into the game and could barely get past the Swansea
backline at all. Bar two penalty calls, one strong, the other
laughable, Brommie never did much to bother Fabianski. Swansea will
hope this result turns their low fortunes around and will go to
Palace next week to hope for further progress and some points. West
Brom host a confident (or at least more confident) Newcastle and will
seek to make amends for their lack of edge today.
Newcastle
Vs Everton: Last gasp header sinks the magpies.........
It's often said that football is a cruel sport sometimes. Sometimes
your team is mercilessly slaughtered (See Sunderland), sometimes your
super team plays like garbage(See Arsenal) and other times your team
clings on and plays their guts out only to be stung right at the end
from a speculative attempt. What happened today was so cruel to the
long-suffering Newcastle fans. They'll be forced to make due with the
fact that they held a rampant Everton team for a full half and then
began to out-play them in the second. For Everton this match will
highlight both a massive strength and a glaring weakness in their
side. For Newcastle they can see that this never happens again by
improving their finishing.
Everton
started much the brighter. Their version of tiki-taka took them
around the Newcastle midfielder as if they weren't there at times.
The full-backs bombed forward with reckless aplomb, at times giving
Everton a 2-5-3 formation, and Lukaku had the run of the central
area. Were it not for Elliot having a great game, Everton could've
been out of sight by half-time. However after a succession of saves
Newcastle went into the break dead even. It was after the re-start
that the tide began with Mitrovic heading narrowly wide when he found
Janmaat's cross under no pressure, then the penny dropped for
Newcastle, Everton aren't that good in the air. Newcastle's new plan
was to get the ball up and keep it up as often as possible and it
nearly worked towards the end when an Elliot long ball befuddled the
entire Everton defence and Perez was almost through. His shot was,
again, narrowly wide. Sissoko would set up Mitrovic for another
header before the 92nd
minute only for him to send it wide also. Then Elliot tamely punched
a speculative punt into the box which left him badly out of position,
Cleverly headed the ball straight back over him and into the net to
seal the deal.
Southampton
Vs Arsenal: Welcome to the new Arsenal, same as the old Arsenal.....
Whether it be complacency over playing a team that hadn't won in six
matches (losing five of those) or too much partying over Christmas or
whatever, Arsenal choose one hell of a time to put in their worst
performance to date. Literally to a man, they were dire. Southampton
put in a good shift and played well but by no means applied the sort
of pressure needed to cause Arsenal to crack asunder like they did
time and time again. It was a curious scene, a team that had just
beaten the favourites for the league who had a bench worth more than
the entire Arsenal starting XI, was sliced apart almost at will by a
team who's best performance in the last six games was a draw to Aston
Villa. One thing is for certain, if Arsenal are to win the league
this year, they plan on doing the hard way.
Southampton successfully overturned one their worst runs in recent
memory with a solid, muscular first half and a perfect second half.
Their first goal was a bolt from the blue and it goes without saying
that Martina will never, ever, hit the ball as well as he did in the
19th minute and will never, ever, score a goal like that
again. After 18 opening minutes, in which Arsenal resembled a
waxworks exhibition that had somehow been mistaken for a football
team, Martina collected the ball just outside the box and just hit
it. The ball swerved from outside the far post back in and left Cech
with no chance. The second half was all Southampton. Koscielny went
down in the 55th, claiming he was tripped by Long, and
Mane's cross was perfect for Long to slot home. Ten minutes later
Fonte scored a training ground header-from-a-corner and then Long
iced the cake again in the dying minutes, outpacing the defence and
tucking home the fourth. Southampton will need the boost heading to
West Ham next week and Arsenal will need to hope other results go
their way and a win at Bournemouth will see them top at the end of
the year.
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