Stoke City v Manchester United

A point against Manchester United must have felt like a win for Stoke’s fans after they saw their side come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at the Britania on Saturday.

But inside the club the Potters management crew felt they could have taken all three points from United on another day.

“The minute that we scored we looked like we were threatening,” said assistant manager Dave Kemp. “We looked like we had a goal in us all the way till the end”.

The Potters goal, that came eight minutes after the half-time interval, was a thunderous header from Peter Crouch as the England striker managed to get in between both Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand, to meet Mathew Etherington’s in swinging corner.

Stoke had trailed going into the half thanks to a well worked move between Nani and Darren Fletcher that gave the Portuguese winger enough space to lash an effort past Asmir Begovic.

But the Potters rallied after the break and, after Crouch pulled them level, almost found a winner. Only the efforts of David De Gea in the United goal, and some poor finishing prevented Pulis’ men from claiming all three points.

“The goalkeeper made some fantastic saves,” said Kemp in reference to De Gea’s fingertip save from Andy Wilkinson’s pile driver and reflex save from Crouch in the second.

“We could have had more, but we didn’t, so we’ll accept it and move on.”

A Wayne Rooney hamstring injury meant he missed the trip to Stoke and when Javier Hernandez was taken off after 11 minutes so may argue that Stoke faced a weakened United strike force. But Rory Delap and Glenn Whelan held the front line of the Stoke defense as the Potters aimed to keep two rows of four behind the ball whenever United came forward.

Despite the missed chances Kemp seemed happy to have finally broken United’s stranglehold over the Potters.

“It’s the first time we’ve taken anything off Manchester United. 

“It’s a great result for us.

“We’re delighted.”

Stoke City v Manchester United

Stoke City v Manchester United

The Britania Stadium

Premier League

Week 6

Peter Crouch was on fire at the Britania Stadium as Stoke City battled their way to an impressive draw against a Rooney-less Manchester United.

The Visitors opened the scoring after 27 minutes at the Britanina Stadium. Nani, and Darren Fletcher carved open Stoke’s defensive lines with a beautiful one-two that gave the Portuguese winger enough time to lash his left footed strike past Asmir Begovic at the near post.

It hadn’t all been plain sailing for the visitors from Lancashire in the opening minutes, as Stoke tried to hurry and press United in an attempt to contain the reigning titleholder’s fluid style of play.

That physicality took its toll early on as Javier Hernandez was forced to make way for Michael Owen just 11 minutes into the game, after Jonathan Woodgate’s fair and strong challenge.

The Potters game plan was simple; dominate with strength and size in defence, and test United’s keeper David De Gea with set pieces from Matthew Etherington and long throws from Rory Delap. 

Peter Crouch played the target man for Stoke and could have given his side the early lead after 14 minutes, but his free header from an Etherington corner was guided wide of the target.

Tony Puli’s men came close to equalizing twice before the half time break, but De Gea’s fine saves denied both a thunderbolt from Andy Wilkinson and Jon Walter’s strike, allowing United to take the lead into the break.

The Potters came out flying from the interval and deservedly equalized after eight minutes. Etherington’s whipped in corner from the Potters right was met by the head of Crouch, who managed to get between both Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand, leaving De Gea to stand and watch as the ball flew past him into the back of the net.

Crouch should have given his side the lead moments later, as Jermaine Pennants cross looped over the head of Ferdinand, but the Spanish keeper did just enough to deny the Potters striker second from close range.

Both sides traded chances as the half went on. De Gea again denied the Potters a lead when Marc Wilson’s driven free-kick required a firm punch away from goal. Ashley Young’s too wasted a chance for the visitors, as effort from 18-yards was struck straight at Begovic.

Stoke pressured United to the end as Crouch’s dominance in the air lead to chances late on. His header from an Etherington corner and a volley at the back post three minutes from time both went wide of the goal and failed to test De Gea.

United weathered the storm and almost snuck a winner in injury time, but Ryan Gigg’s volley was miss-hit and the Potters brought an end to Alex Ferguson’s perfect start to the season.

Three Hot Points this Weekend.

Premiership sides are ready for the challenge once again of Premiership football, but the distraction of the Carling Cup and the early season form of some sides has raised a few issues that may well be given a little more clarity by the end of Monday nights Norwich Sunderland encounter.

Here are three issues to keep an eye on over week six of the Barclays Premier League.

The Return of the Three Musketeers.

Ok, so they don’t all play at the same club, nor are they in any way French, but this week’s Carling Cup action saw the return of three footballers who have been on the sideline for a long time.

Stuart Holden has been out injured for Bolton Wanderers since March 19^th 2011 after a horrific clash with Manchester United’s Johnny Evans. Holden’s recovery has been a long and painful process but after six months out of football the American international finally reappeared in mid-week to play the full 90 minutes against Aston Villa in the League Cup. 

Owen Hargreaves was another comeback kid this week thanks to the Carling Cup.  After being let go by Manchester United this summer Hargreaves, who hadn’t played a minute off football since November 2010, was snapped up on a free transfer by Manchester City’s sharp-eyed manager Roberto Mancini.

His debut this week not only produced 57 minutes of football for the former England international but also a magnificent goal that may well earn him a spot on the bench this weekend against Everton.

Finally England’s little big man Michael Owen made a triumphant return to football earning himself his first start of the season against Leeds United  on Tuesday night.  Owen, who signed a one year deal with Manchester United this summer, hasn’t seen consistent football since he joined the Red Devils and has come under scrutiny from pundits and fans alike for not moving to a smaller club to get regular first team action. 

But after scoring two goals in the week Ferguson may feel his ageing striker deserves a place on the subs bench, at least, this weekend against Stoke.

Holden is the most likely to start out of the trio of comeback kids but look for Owen and Hargreaves to try and cement their returns to football should the opportunity arise.

The New Kids On The Block

Swansea, QPR and Norwich were all able to pick up three points last weekend. QPR put three past Wolves, Swansea matched that with a 3-0 win at home to West Brom, while Norwich squeezed past Bolton with a 2-1 win.

So the big test for the new boys this week keep up the winning streak. So who will be the first of the newly promoted sides to grab two wins on the trot?

QPR meet Aston Villa at home, Norwich face a stubborn Sunderland side while Swansea have a trip to London to meet Chelsea.

My money’s on QPR.

Who Going To Change That Form Table

The Premier League is beginning to take shape at the top with United, Man City and Chelsea all making great starts to their season.

But who at the bottom is looking out of place right now. The bottom five consists, at the moment, of Blackburn, Arsenal, West Brom, Fulham and Bolton. Yet four of these sides wouldn’t have been considered for relegation when the season started five games ago. Yes it’s early but there’s no better time to seek security then at the beginning of the year and Arsenal Fulham West Brom and Bolton all need to get their scoring boots on this week to pull themselves out of their early season slumps. 

Blackburn were expected to see a long hard season and it wouldn’t surprise me if they were close to the relegation battle in the closing weeks of the campaign but who will be join them.

This weekend is time for things to take shape and set a tone for the next few months leading into the January transfer window.

No Time For Mistakes. Football Managements Lost Qualities

Loyalty.  Stability.  Patience. These are three words that have been dragged out of football.

With the importance of the Champions League qualification, League success and television exposure now being dictated by the cash that flows through football, like a unrelenting river, clubs, with their high wage bills and costly transfer budgets, are looking for success in the immediate future rather then the long term.

The sacking of Gian Piero Gasperini after just five games in charge of Internazionale is yet another indication that its tough at the top when your in charge of one of the world's biggest football clubs.

Gasperini Gone

Gasperini joined Inter on June 24^th 2011, replacing Leonardo after the Brazilian chose to make a run for the border joining French outfit Paris Saint-Germain and their new Qatari investors.

Over the August transfer window the former Genoa manager brought in striker Diego Forlan from Athletico Mardid as well as Mauro Matias Zarate from Lazio and midfielder Andrea Poli.

However his signings, despite creating a buzz off the pitch, failed to inspire when on the field and Inter lost four of their first five competitive games of the 2011/12 season.

The Inter board has deemed this disappointing start to be enough to remove Gasperini from his position with immediate effect. Claudio Ranieri is now the odds on favorite for the high profile position.

One Of Many

Gasperini now becomes the third manager to walk away from Internazionale since the departure of Jose Mourinho in 2010, following in the footsteps of Leonardo, his predecessor, and Rafael Benitez, who’s tenure at the club lasted just 7 months.

Inter are not the only high profile club who’ve been quick to axe their top man when results don’t go the right way.

Just last season, Roy Hodgson spent a meager 6 months as Liverpool manager while Chelsea at one point, went through five managers (including a caretaker spell by Ray Wilkins), between September 2007 and June 2009.

Even the mighty Real Madrid went through ten managers (including Fabio Capello and Manuel Pellegrini), since the appointment of Jose Antonio Camacho in the summer of 2004.

It Just A Piece Of Paper

Contracts seem now to be meaningless when sides take a dip in form and the cost of such short-term appointments is tremendous.  It seems that the money wasted when a club has to pay off a manager’s contract however, is of less importance when it potential income to be gained through league titles and Champions League football.

Maybe though if manager's contracts weren't being paid off every 12 months some clubs would be less reliant on the money gained from success and would instead be able to build for the future. A little ironic should this be the situation.

The contract length now has no meaning to club owners and it's turning the appointment and removal of a manager into something of a farce.

Building A Legacy.

The rash decision-making that surrounds managerial positions is preventing the modern game from developing the great links and historic relationships that managers had with their former clubs.

Fabio Capello has managed a number of different clubs, including Real Madrid and Roma, yet it is his time at AC Milan that he is best known for. His four league titles, three Italian Supercoppas as well as one European Cup are Capello’s rewards for a five season long spell at the club, one that will never be forgotten by both the club and it's fans. 

Similarly Alex Ferguson's 25+ year spell at Manchester United. The Scottish born manager has been at the club since 1986 but was only able to bring a trophy to the club after three years. Since that first success however, Ferguson has turned United into the most successful club in English football and maybe the world.

In the modern game though, the majority of clubs would not tolerate a three-year drought without a trophy, especially at a club the size of Manchester United. It's unthinkable now, especially after the 22 years of glory since then, to think what would have happened had Ferguson been given his P45 two trophy-less years into his spell at the Red Devils.

These are the sorts of legacies that managers are rarely given the opportunity to create thanks to the lack of patience by both fans and managers when things take a turn for the worst.

The Exception That Proves The Rule

Arsene Wenger at Arsenal is the only manager I can think of whose failure at a top flight club has been tolerated for over three years. 

The French Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 taking Arsenal to four FA Cup final victories and three Premiership titles including the season of the invincibles, a season during which Arsenal failed to lose a single game.

Yet since the 04-05 season Wenger has failed to bring a single trophy to the Gunners trophy cabinet and his side has played the third wheel to both United and Chelsea's title campaigns. 

Wenger’s style of management involves time and patience and is focused around the development of youth players but the faith put in this Wenger's system by both fans and the Gunners board is a rarity in the game and one that the Frenchman is lucky to be granted. 

Even now after seven trophy-less season the faith bestowed in the Arsenal boss is almost unwavering. There are few in the game who would be granted such a luxury.

It’s A Sign Of The Times

The modern game is a money driven business when teams are at the top. Success is measured in cash and targets have to be met to keep the money rolling in.  When targets aren't met changes have to be made and managers have to be held accountable for their shortcomings.

The pressure to succeed is greater then ever as fans and owners demand a return on their emotional and financial investment.

A relegated side from the Premiership stands to lose over £30 million as they fall from top-flight football while missing out on Champions League football can cost a top club an average of £23.5 million. This combined with the loss in stature means clubs that miss targets can slip down the pecking order very quickly as players go in search of a better caliber of football to ply their trade in.

Money talks, and managers walk, even after just five games.

Football is no longer the beautiful game, where the majority of managers would see out a contract, while players would spend the majority of their careers one club.

Gasperini is just another casualty of football and business's relationship and I’m sure his successor will suffer a similar fate should things take a turn for the worst.

It's not a funny old game anymore. It's a cutthroat and ruthless one.

Manchester City v Everton: Match Preview

Despite a convincing win in mid-week against Birmingham City, Manchester City will be hoping to shake off the mistakes from last weekend’s draw with Fulham when they entertain Everton at Eastlands stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Owen Hargreaves and Mario Balotelli helped the Blues sweep past the Midlanders on Wednesday night, and Mancini was delighted with the role Hargreaves played during his 57 minutes on pitch.

“He had no problems tonight,” said Mancini after the game.  “He's had no problems for the last two weeks. We said that he would have about 60 minutes before the game, and I'm happy for him.

"It's important that he becomes again the player that he was, then he will be important to the England team as well.

“Owen is a fantastic player and he can become an important player for us. He can play often.”

But Mancini will be fielding a stronger side on Saturday then the one that faced Birmingham, with memories of a blown two-goal lead against Fulham still fresh in the mind.

“It is incredible that we lost these two points. Of course you cannot win every game away from home but this is one that we should have won.

“We should have scored more than one goal in the first half just like we should have scored more than one against Wigan in the first half when we were similarly dominant.

“We have to learn the lessons. We did a foul throw for the first goal and the second one should have been a free kick to us because Dzeko was fouled but that is football.

“I am frustrated because I believe that we should have won the game. We gave away stupid goals.”

So with an almost full strength squad (Nigel do Jong’s foot injury is still leaving the Dutchman as questionable to play) City look good for Saturday, while Everton look to continue their impressive start to the season after collecting even points from their opening four games.

Kick-off is at 12.30pm on Saturday.

Wolves v Everton: Match Preview

Wolves bounced back from a 3-0 loss to QPR with a 5-0 win over Millwall in their mid-week Carling Cup clash.

But now all focus has to be turned back towards the league as McCarthy’s men travel to Liverpool to face the Reds at Anfield. 

Liverpool last Premier League tie was an unhappy affair away at Tottenham last Sunday and, after scraping a win against Brighton in the week, Kenny Dalglish’s side will be looking to answer some questions when they entertain the visiting Wolves.

McCarthy will have both captain Roger Johnson and Kevin Foley available after both missed the mid-week Carling Cup action, however Stephen Fletcher looks unlikely to be involved as his groin injury continues to recover.

“There’s no pressure on the players,” said McCarthy when asked about Saturday’s fixture.

“We’re not expected to get anything, it’s a place where you can go and play.”

Wolves task is  made even more difficult as both Martin Skyrtel and Charlie Adam had their one match bans used up in the weeks Carling Cup action, and Wolves players and fans alike are under no illusion that the trip to Anfield will be a walk in the park.

Kick Off at Anfield is 15:00pm, Saturday 24^th September.

"They Deserved It"

“We didn’t get started from the first whistle,” said a forlorn looking Mick McCarthy after his side took a 3-0 thumping from newly promoted Queens Park Rangers.

“Why that is, goodness knows.”

Maybe it was the distraction of a power cut at the Molineux, that almost caused the fixture to be abandoned, just 3 hours before kick-off that unsettled Mick’s Wolves side but the Wolves boss wasn’t going to make excuses for his sides poor performance.

“I wont take anything away from them, they played well,” added McCarthy.

“But they were aided and abated by a poor performance from all of us, myself included, that was as bas as we’ve been.”

Wolves’ awful start was punished by a ruthless QPR. With new faces all over the starting eleven including Luke Young, Shawn Wright-Phillips and Joey Barton Neil Warnock’s men have transformed from a relegation favorite to a strong candidate for Premiership survival in a matter of weeks.

Barton was the first to beat Wayne Hennessey, clipping a scuffed shot into the bottom corner after Wright-Phillips bounced his volleyed cross towards the new QPR captain.

After nine minutes the visitors had doubled their lead, this time Barton turning provider as his cross was never cleared from danger by the leaky Wolves defense, Alejandro Faurlin chested the lose ball down before hitting a his strike into Hennessey’s bottom corner from 20 yards out.

QPR pressed for most of the game as the Wolves midfield of struggled to contain and hold the visitor’s advances.

Barton, Wright-Phillips and Faurlin all had chances to grab a third, including a Wright-Phillips strike that struck the foot of the post before bouncing back to a grateful Hennessey.

But Wolves clung on until, with three minutes remaining, substitute DJ Cambell grabbed his first goal of the campaign, placing the ball into an empty net after Armand Traore broke into the Wolves box before squaring to his Rangers team mate.

Carl Henry had almost pulled Wanderers right back into the fixture just after QPR took their second goal. But the midfielder’s effort struck the outside of the post and bounced clear, to the dismay of the fans behind the goal.

Henry’s effort proved to be the only real chance of the game for Wolves, aside from a late free kick from Jamie O’Hara, and McCarthy knows that his sides performance is disappointing especially after their bright start the season.

“We played well last week. We’ve had four excellent performances up until today.”

“They [QPR] deserved to win, they were better then us today.”

Wolves Slump as New Look Rangers Storm On

Wolverhampton slumped to a 3-0 defeat at home to Premiership new boys QPR in a game that almost never happened.

Even before a ball was kicked there was drama at Molineux. A power cut, that affected the whole of Wolverhampton town center, threatened to force match day officials to call of the fixture just hours before kick-off.

But once lights came on and the panic was over everyone at Wolves was able to stop worrying about health and safety problems, and start worrying about a visiting QPR side who should have taken a win from Newcastle United just 6 days ago.

It was Wolves themselves, rather then the Molineux, that needed a jump-start as the visitors took the game to them from the outset.

Just seven minutes passed before Rangers had broken the deadlock and punished Wolves for their poor start.

Midfielder Alejandro Faurlin found Shawn Wright-Phillips at the back post, the little Englishman bouncing a volleyed cross into the path of Joey Barton who clipped his shot past a stretched out Wayne Hennessy and into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later their lead was doubled. Bartons ball in from the bye-line was never really cleared from danger and when the ball dropped kindly to Faurlin 20 yards from goal, the midfielder needed no excuse to lash an effort towards goal and straight into the back of the Wolves net.

Karl Henry came close to an immediate reply when his effort from the edge of the box struck the QPR post, but the ball bounced clear and Wolves went into a slump that they would never recover from.

Barton, Wright-Phillips and Faurlin all saw efforts get blocked or sail wide as Wolves hung on to stay in the contest, while Ireland Internationals Stephen Ward and Kevin Doyle received very little service going forward from their supporting cast.

Ward moved back into the back four after the break as Sam Vokes came off the bench to partner Doyle up front. Although the move re-enforced Wolves’ defenses it did little to create more opportunities going forwards as the home side continued to let QPR dominate much of the play.

Similarly Stephen Hunt’s introduction 15 minutes from time did little to inspire the Wolves midfield as it struggled to both find possession, and use the ball effectively when it did eventually came to them.

QPR go their third minutes before the final whistle.

 Wright-Phillips had previously come close to wrapping up the match, striking the foot of Hennessey’s post 12 minutes from the end, but it was substitute D J Cambell who grabbed QPR’s final goal, tucking away Armand Traore’s cross after the former Gunner broke, untracked, from inside his own half before squaring the ball to the waiting striker.  

Wolves were poor and the hand full of fans left inside the Molineux greeted the final whistle with jeers rather then cheers. A disappointing result that was matched by an even more disappointing performance

Fernando's Time Is Now

Sunday is a massive day for Fernando Torres.

Despite having still only scored one goal in a Chelsea shirt since joining in January both fans and team-mates at the club have been quick to defend the Spanish star when the critics have raised their ugly heads.

This season Fernando looks poised to pay back the faithful for their support and silence the critics once and for all.

Turn Around

It’s taken just four Premiership games for Torres to win back the plaudits of the football media.

Just 2 months ago during the Premier Leagues Asian Cup that the British pundits were calling Torres the £50 million flop, describing his play as lacking pace and confidence.

Now most of the naysayers are silent as Torres haunts the nightmares of Premiership defenders once again, playing the linking role in Chelsea’s attacks and making flashing runs off the ball to create space and catch out defenders across the back four.

A Slight Mood Killer

But still the goals haven’t come.

Despite his creative play Torres has been unlucky (or lacked confidence) in front of goal. Stoke, West Brom, Norwich and Sunderland have all denied the World Cup winner his first goal of the season, and although no game can be considered easy, Torres will be disappointed to have not broken his duck against teams that could well be in the bottom half of the table at the end of the season

The pressure is mounting on Torres to provide the goals, especially when Mr Abramovich looks at what £50 million could have bought the Blues. It would have convinced Harry Redknapp to part with Luka Modric, bought David Villa with money to spare or made a last minute swoop for pint sized Uruguayan sensation Luis Suarez.

Time To Rise To The Occasion.

With all this hanging over the Spaniard’s head it would have been no surprise to hear that Fernando was struggling to get motivated for this season.

But now with a good run of performances behind him and both Juan Mata and Raul Meireles clicking straight into the Chelsea squad with no complications there is no reason why Torres can’t take United by storm.

Goals, not a goal, are needed on Sunday for Torres make his statement. We all saw him scrape his solitary goal against West Ham last season, but Fernando hasn’t scored two goals in a game since November 7^th 2010 when, in a Liverpool shirt, he put two past Chelsea.

A pair at Old Trafford would silence critics once and for all (well a few weeks till he scores again) and Torres should be raring to go in the biggest game of Chelsea’s season so far. United’s defense will be a tough nut to crack, but coming of the back of a disappointing draw away to Benfica last Wednesday moral will be at an all time low for this season right now.  More importantly, they’ve shown that a quality side can get a result against the flying Red Devils.  A world-class squad like Chelsea’s must therefore have a chance of taking United apart.

So It’s All Waiting To Be Had

It’s there to be had for both Chelsea and Torres, but it wont come easily.

United are yet to drop a point in the League and will still be reveling in the triumph of their last two league games, a 5-0 win away at Bolton and of course that 8-2 humiliation of Arsenal at Old Trafford.

A win for Chelsea will require maximum effort from the whole squad and 100% focus for the full 90 minutes.

But if Fernando can produce a performance that his early season form has been building up to Chelsea could walk away with either biggest points of the season so far and Torres will be able to rest knowing he has well and truly shaken the monkey off his back.

Will Monday morning’s papers read “Fernan-Doh!”or “Triumphant Torres rules in Trafford”. I can’t wait to see.