JAN 5 — So, we are back with a new year and the English Premier League (EPL) certainly has started with a bang. The weekend brought some cheer while I had to desperately try explaining to our long-suffering, Liverpool-fan make-up artist at ESPN-StarSports studios that referees do really fear Alex Ferguson!
She was obviously flabbergasted at Chris Foy for not sending off Gary Neville and awarding West Bromwich Albion a penalty.
I have said it before and I will say it again, that man is an institution (Ferguson of course, not Neville!) and has earned the right to win big decisions.
In the process, I think I annoyed her by saying Rafa Benitez tried to stand up to Fergie with his famous “fact” rant... but then, let us leave the “sacked twice in a year man” out of this.
The Red Devils got extremely lucky.
The Spurs, too, as Fulham battered us and Aaron Lennon refused to pass the ball. All the nonsense about David Beckham is probably upsetting him already.
Yes, in my opinion, it will be nonsensical to sign Beckham on loan and the reason why lies in the question, “Why not Ronaldinho?” Just when you think that life has found a balance.
The Arsenal looked awesome at times apart from Robin van Persie fumbling his way around. Why can’t Arsene Wenger play a natural striker in Maroune Chamakh? But then again, it needs a brave decision to put van Persie on the bench.
The performance of the weekend was surely Aston Villa against Chelsea. They were good for their lead at 2-1 and deserved the late equaliser to make it 3-3.
The choice to start with all the experienced players was a good one by Gerard Houllier and to see the young Ciaran Clark pop up very, very late in the game and nod home like a seasoned pro gives the Villans plenty to look forward to.
The final match of the weekend was wobbly Wigan playing the worst football that they are capable of to lose at home. For all the talk of Roberto Martinez and his playing philosophy, while changing his formation to a 3-5-2 to get back into the game, he took Tom Cleverly away from goal by deploying him as a left wingback.
Perhaps, it would have been better to go to a 3-4-3 with Cleverly, Mauro Bosselli and Hugo Rodallega as a front three without giving up the attacking intent.
Dare we say Fernando Torres is back? He fought hard and was inspirational throughout the game against a tough Bolton team. If only he could turn up every game.
The theory is, as told to me by a die-hard Liverpool fan from Singapore, apparently the players were told by the owners that a new manager is on the way thus the happy performance.
No, I would never think of making up something like this but it was a passionate performance nevertheless.
Or is it true that Jose Mourinho expressed his interest in Torres in a phone call to the striker?
Ok, I’m sorry, I made this one up!
Enjoy your football, enjoy 2011! Happy New Year everyone!
* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
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