Christmas is known as the ‘silly season’, as family do’s, work Christmas parties, and other unmentionable shenanigans flood our daily lives, and seasons don’t get sillier than this year’s version of the English Premier League.
This past week saw Leicester beat Everton 3-2 to remain on top of the table; Norwich go to Old Trafford and beat Manchester United 2-1; Chelsea sack Jose Mourinho, then turn around and beat Sunderland 3-1; Bournemouth win their third straight game, this time beating West Brom 2-1 away; and Newcastle fail to beat bottom-placed Aston Villa at St James’ Park.
All just par for the course really in this wackiest of wacky seasons – hell, seventh-placed Watford beating ninth-placed Liverpool is almost normal/expected this campaign.
And then, in the late Monday fixture, in amongst all this other bedlam, Arsenal beat Manchester City 2-1 (which you can read more about here). The Gunners now sit two points off league leaders Leicester (still feels strange typing those words, no matter how many time you type them), and leave fans asking honestly – could this be Arsenal’s year?
United and Chelsea lurch from one crisis to the next, Liverpool still lack both competency and consistency, while City’s away record is currently weighing the club down like a lead balloon. While their main rivals shoot themselves in the foot, Arsenal sit poised within striking distance of the Premier League summit. They host Leicester at the Emirates in February, right before they face Barcelona in the Champions League.
As for City, Manuel Pellegrini’s side still possess an inability to defend effectively without captain Vincent Kompany. With Kompany this season – City have conceded one goal in eight games; without Kompany this season – 18 goals conceded in eight games. And City can hardly point to their missing defensive rock for the defeat, as they faced an Arsenal side missing Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere, and Danny Welbeck. The issue for City remains a lack of quality back-up in key positions, and Kompany is not the only one – that’s now at least three times Sergio Aguero has limped off the pitch this season, as Pellegrini continues to rush his star back from various knocks and ailments, probably due to the immense gap in quality between Aguero and the other options.
Form is everything
In this crazy season, it seems that consistent form will be the one commodity with which targets – titles, European places, avoiding relegation – will be achieved. Over the past six games, the best teams in the Premier League are Leicester, Crystal Palace, Watford, and Bournemouth, while the longest unbeaten runs currently belong to Leicester (10 matches), Bournemouth (five), and a tie on four between Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Watford, and West Ham. Astounding.
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The Sack Race
Step aside Brendan Rodgers, Garry Monk, Tim Sherwood, and Dick Advocaat. Make way in the unemployment office for Jose Mourinho, who late last week was given his marching orders by Chelsea. Again. It’s not hard to see why Jose was sacked, with the champions currently turning in the worst title defence in Premier League history, having won only four and drawn three of their 16 matches to sit a mere point above the relegation places at the time of Jose’s sacking.
So, what next for the ‘Getting less Special by the year’ One? Rumours have him eying off the Manchester United job – he’s always coveted the United hot seat, but didn’t want to be the one handed the ‘no win situation’ of following Sir Alex, whether in 2013 or a decade earlier – Jose was linked with the top job at United as early as 2003, before he’d steered Porto to the Champions League title and before Chelsea were a relevant football club.
The Sack Race – who’s next?
While we’re on the subject of United, those murmurs surrounding Louis Van Gaal’s tenuous grip on his job are becoming full-blown cries for change after United lost 2-1 at home to Norwich, the club’s fourth straight league game without a win.
We always look at United’s possession versus their shots on target, so why stop now – this week against Norwich, the Red Devil’s second consecutive game against promoted opposition, they recorded 71 per cent possession for only two shots on target. Two. At home. To Norwich.
Two shots on target against a Norwich defence that, aside from having the fourth-worst defence in the Premier League, had allowed 47 shots on target in their previous seven away league games – for comparison, Leicester needed only five shots on target and only 33 per cent possession to score three goals in beating Everton. United now rank 18th in the division for shots taken, and 15th for shots on target; I’m no mathematician, but I know all of this is bad.
Oh, and this was Norwich’s first win at Old Trafford since 1989.
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If United’s big wigs weren’t questioning Van Gaal’s credentials prior to this loss, surely they are now. For all the talk that Van Gaal was some sort of managerial genius after subbing a goalkeeper at the 2014 World Cup, here is a manager that hadn’t really done much of note since the late ‘90s.
Yes, he was really, really good with Ajax in the ‘90s, winning everything, including the Champions League, with a team that included the likes of Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp, the De Boer’s, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, and Edwin van der Sar. Yes, he also had success with Barcelona, taking the Catalan giants to back-to-back La Liga titles, but that second title in 1999 really was the end of his time as a dominant manager.
This century, Van Gaal’s ‘highlights’ include failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup as boss of the Dutch national team, and while he did win a surprise Eredivisie title in 2009 as boss of AZ Alkmaar, a spell at Bayern Munich yielded ‘only’ one league title. While that last point might sound harsh, that is how managers of the Bavarian giants are measured.
Which brings us to Manchester United in the present day, with Van Gaal now being asked the very reasonable question of “what have you done for us lately?” Unfortunately for him, “beating Watford” is not a satisfactory answer to that question.
Why tactics matter – managerial sacking edition
The sacking of Mourinho and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Van Gaal all go to show that Liverpool made the right decision sacking Rodgers and tabbing Jurgen Klopp when they did. While Klopp’s record of played nine, won three, drawn three, lost three compares almost identically with that of Rodgers’ this season (played eight, won three, drawn three, lost two), a results of late have been nothing to crow about, few would argue that Liverpool made a mistake in making the move.
Klopp would have been right at the top of Chelsea’s list of Mourinho replacements, and one imagines both United and potentially Arsenal, with rumours continuing to swirl about how long Arsene Wenger will stay in North London, would have moved for the German next season if he was still available.
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What a bloody shambles
Shambolic. Adjective, meaning very disorganised, messy, or confused (thanks, www.dictionary.com). That perfectly sums up Liverpool’s performance in losing 3-0 away to Watford, in a performance that was as bad as the shameless 6-1 defeat to Stoke on the final day of last season.
But while we could go on about Liverpool’s issues – no competent goalkeeping, weak defensively, overrun in midfield, still no real output from an extremely expensive strikeforce – it would do Watford a disservice to speak of the Red’s failings and not of the Hornet’s excellence.
In winning so emphatically over Liverpool, Quique Sanchez Flores’ side moved to within one point of the top four, the exact same position they found themselves in 12 months ago, just in a different division. In Troy Deeney and Odion Ighaol, Watford have a pair of strikers at the top of their game, playing as a pair when the concept of two up front looked to have gone the way of man-marking centre backs. The 28 points Watford have accumulated so far this season equal their highest evert total in the top flight, and they still have 21 games left to add to it.
Just on Liverpool, one point from matches against Newcastle, West Brom, and Watford is not what the Red’s would have hoped for in their Christmas stocking as they chase a top four place.
Guus whose back, back again
Not Chelsea, that’s for sure, despite their 3-1 win and the news Dutchman Guus Hiddink is, once again, their interim manager. Here’s a couple of notes for Chelsea supporters to keep in mind:
Number one: you beat Sunderland via two set piece goals and lucky defensive deflection for Pedro’s strike, so please don’t delude yourselves into thinking you’re ‘back’ after following this win against a side who will no doubt be mid-table in the Championship this time next year.
Number two: this is specifically for the Blues fans booing Chelsea players and chanting about how wrong the club got it by sacking Mourinho – don’t bother. Your club doesn’t care about you or your fly by night opinions; never forget, your club is the play thing of a rich Russian, and he couldn’t care less about what you think. Chant “stand up for the Special One” all you want, Chelsea will always be focused on short-termism, not long-term growth. After all, Abramovich has sacked plenty of quality managers for far less than being down in 16th – Di Matteo a few months after winning the Champions League, Ancelotti a year after winning the title despite finishing second and making the Champions League semi-finals spring to mind.
Costa bonus: Diego Costa currently couldn’t hit the ground if you pushed him over. Aside from being a bully and a pain in the backside, if he doesn’t offer goals, what is the point of him?
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View from the top
Following their win over Newcastle a few weeks ago, we opined that the matches to the end of 2015 would show Leicester City for what they truly are. So far across that stretch, the Foxes have won three and drawn one, with matches against Liverpool at Anfield on Boxing Day and hosting Manchester City to round out what has been a truly remarkable 12 months for the club. The only side to beat Leicester in the league this season is the one currently sitting immediately below them on the table.
Leicester has never won the English top division title, although they did finish second to Sheffield Wednesday all the way back in 1929. Could it really happen?
Life at the bottom
After beating Liverpool and Tottenham, of course Newcastle couldn’t see off bottom club Aston Villa (how many times did the commentators use the term ‘relegation six-pointer’ in this one?), who continue to struggle – no Premier League team with as few points as Villa at this stage of the season has ever stayed up.
There was yet more inept defending from Remi Garde’s men, with Fabricio Coloccini’s opening goal a carbon copy of the one Villa conceded against Southampton two weeks ago – ball swung in from wide, past about six disinterested claret-and-blue defenders, to be finished by an unmarked opposition player on the far post.
Yes, this was a point for Villa, but with Norwich winning, the Villians are now ten points from safety. A Birmingham derby in the Championship next season is looking more and more likely with every passing week (providing Birmingham City don’t get promoted – they’re currently eighth in the Champo, a point off the playoffs).
It ain’t easy being a ref
I’ll bet referees love it when their jobs are made easier by nice, obvious decisions like the ones this weekend.
We genuinely can’t work out what Tim Howard was whinging about when he up-ended Jamie Vardy for what would become Leicester’s second goal from the spot. It was quite clearly a penalty, and Howard was lucky to only see a yellow card, as Vardy had outrun the entire Everton defence and would almost certainly have added to his league leading tally had the American not intervened.
Two players who didn’t escape a referee’s red card wrath were West Brom pair James McClean and Salomon Rondon as the Baggies lost at home to Bournemouth. McLean’s studs flying challenge was borne out of frustration, and whilst utterly stupid, it wasn’t the dumbest thing a West Brom player did in this game, as Rondon thought it’d be handy to kick out at and try to head-butt Dan Gosling. Tony Pulis will have to plan for life without the Venezuelan as he’ll be without the striker for some time.
Weather bonus: given the amount of groundwater on the pitch, how did the Newcastle v Aston Villa game go ahead/continue?
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Quick hits
In scoring against Leicester, Romelu Lukaku has now scored in seven straight league games. Could we see the goals in consecutive Premier League matches record equalled or possibly even broken twice in the same season? The Belgian would need goals in upcoming league games against Newcastle (a), Stoke (h), Tottenham (h), and Manchester City (a) to equal Vardy’s newly-minted record, and then a further goal away to Chelsea to set a new mark.
In other goal scoring news, Tottenham’s Harry Kane now has eight goals in his last eight games.
In half a Premier League season plus a full campaign in the Championship last season, Ighalo and Deeney have 58 league goals and 19 assists between them for Watford.
Mesut Ozil once again casually provided assists for both Arsenal’s goals against City, becoming only the sixth player ever to get 15 or more assists in a season. He’s five away from Thierry Henry’s record of 20 with over half the season still to play.
With their win over West Brom, Bournemouth won three straight games for the first time since beating Birmingham City, Brighton, and Reading in the Championship in April last season.
What in the world was Cedric doing for Dele Alli’s goal as Southampton lost to Spurs, the Saints fifth-straight match without a win? Ok, Kyle Walker’s pass fooled you, but don’t stop playing, certainly not when Alli has the ball two yards from your goal!
Give yourself a pat on the back if you managed to avoid the 0-0 between Swansea and West Ham. Yawn.
Goal of the week – Yaya Toure
This was almost Lee Chung-yong’s 88th minute winner for Crystal Palace against Stoke, then it was almost Jordan Ayew’s stunning equaliser for Villa against Newcastle. Following Monday night’s game, it was so close to being Theo Walcott’s opener for Arsenal, and it would have been, right up until the point Toure almost passed the ball into the top corner of Petr Cech’s goal with almost no back lift. Another stunner from the Ivorian.
Goose of the Week – Kevin De Bruyne
Kick the ball, not the corner flag Kevin!
Gloveman of the week – Wayne Hennessy
Another good performance from the Palace custodian, turning away Bojan’s drive from distance before being alert at his near post to keep out Marco Van Ginkel’s flick. The second half saw Hennessey keep Palace in the game before their late winner, stopping a Glen Johnson shot dead in its tracks, and while he couldn’t prevent Bojan’s well-hit penalty from going in, he did get a fingertip on it.
Miss of the week
This might become a weekly item, but take a bow Siem De Jong – four yards out, unmarked, Villa keeper Brad Guzan nowhere to be seen, goal at your mercy. *Puts header wide.
Stat of the week
In the English top flight, no side has ever been bottom of the league one Christmas only to be top of the league 12 months’ later, but that is exactly what Leicester achieved in beating Everton.
Fantasy stud
More Leicester, as this is all getting silly now, but that’s the way the whole season has gone. Another top game from Riyah Mahrez, with two goals from the penalty spot in yet another man of the match performance. If you don’t have Mahrez in your fantasy team, you really need your head examined.
Final thought…
EPL Extra Time will be taking a little break over the Christmas period, which it must be said is a football overload for Premier League fans. Be well, be happy, be merry, stay safe, and enjoy your football!