Granted a second chance Avram returns for another hot debut

NOV 28 — As someone who watches and talks a lot about football to anyone who cares to read or listen, I can only say that when it rains, it really pours.

The past month has been so full of talking points, outside of the pitch, let alone on the pitch. So much so, I got into a frenzy of writing and made two factual errors in my last article – “The world of football, shaken and stirred”.

Firstly, Robbie Fowler did take that penalty for Liverpool against Arsenal on 24 March 1997 at Highbury, but he didn’t score as David Seaman blocked the shot and it was Jamie Carragher who put the ball in the net. You can read about it in this article.  

Secondly, Diego Maradona led Argentina to only their second World Cup title in 1986 and not third. They previously won in 1978, when they were hosts as well.

Moving on to tonight’s matches in the English Premier League (EPL), one couldn’t have written a more dramatic piece of footballing irony for Avram Grant, the new manager of Portsmouth. Back in 2007, on 20th September to be precise, he was appointed manager of Chelsea after Jose Mourinho parted company with the London side.

Grant’s first match in charge just four days later was against Chelsea’s main title rivals, Manchester United (MU). Thanks to some dubious refereeing at Old Trafford (as usual) and a Chelsea sending off, MU won the match 2-0.

Who would’ve guessed that Grant’s first match on his second coming in the EPL would pit him against MU again. He was given little hope back in 2007 with a star-studded Blues line-up, and even less now with a Portsmouth side that is bottom of the EPL.

Grant will take charge of the team at Fratton Park today in his capacity as director of football, having been granted his work permit. The club will now go through the process of making the technical change to his work permit that will allow Grant to become manager.

The off-the-field problems at Portsmouth had certainly filtered down to the pitch, with the team registering only two league wins all season. Worse still, two takeovers in a matter of weeks has seen a transfer embargo placed on the club.

Their most recent defeat against Stoke City was the final straw for the board, who sacked Paul Hart earlier this week. Ironically, the club had beaten Stoke last month to reach the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

Pompey will not only be buoyed by the fresh approach under Grant, they’ll take heart from the fact they have claimed ten points from six meetings with MU on the south coast since their arrival in the top flight in 2003/04.

MU are having problems of their own to handle before they even look at how Grant will inspire his team. Defenders Rio Ferdinand, John O’Shea and Johnny Evans are all still out.

However, as a consolation, the form of Wes Brown this season has been a significant boon for the Red Devils. Alex Ferguson is very pleased with him and how he has teamed up with Nemanja Vidic in central defence. Fergie was even gushing about how Brown is the best defender in the EPL currently. Err...no, I don’t think so, oh old red-nosed one.

Ferguson is likely to recall a host of players rested in the midweek Champions League debacle, losing at home to Turkish side Besiktas. Among them are Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia, the evergreen Ryan Giggs and a fit again Dimitar Berbatov.

While on paper MU should walk home with all three points, Grant’s newbie luck and MU’s defensive woes could provide the perfect recipe for a home win. I’d back a draw for Portsmouth though as MU are likely to get their usual lucky deflected injury time goal in the 97th minute for that one important point.

Speaking of injury time goals, last week we saw Tottenham Hotspur score eight times in the second half, with the last going in well into injury time. Who would’ve thought that Wigan Athletic, the team that defeated Chelsea 3-1, albeit at home, could have crumbled so easily at White Hart Lane.

I wonder if UEFA should open another investigation here. I am kidding, of course. But then again . . . .

Spurs visit Villa Park in the other main highlight of Saturday’s EPL action. Currently occupying fourth place after a promising start to the season, Spurs are among a clutch of clubs trying to break the monopoly of the traditional Big Four.

Aston Villa have been up there, so to speak, for the past two seasons and will be the first match in a tough five weeks where Spurs will also play MU, Everton and Manchester City.

Martin O'Neill, manager of Aston Villa, naturally sees Spurs as his club's main rivals to break into the top four this season.

Despite the 9-1 drubbing of Wigan, I doubt if Spurs can repeat the same form against a more capable team like Aston Villa. The Villans have not lost at home all season, taking 13 points from a possible 15. Spurs, meanwhile, have lost three times on the road and have generally failed to perform against the better sides in the league, losing 3-0 at Chelsea and Arsenal.

There is a feeling at Villa Park this season that they have learned from their failings of last season by bulking up their ranks with the likes of Richard Dunne, James Collins, Stewart Downing, Stephen Warnock, Fabian Delph and Habib Beye all arriving in the summer.

With the yo-yo form that Spurs have become renowned for, do not expect this tie to be a one-sided affair with the away side coming away with all points. Villa will show why they are a better side now compared with last season. A low-scoring home win is on the cards.

I mentioned above about Portsmouth’s qualification to the Carling Cup quarterfinals. What I have just realised, in yet another uncanny coincidence to add to Grant’s first match in charge, is that the four teams above — MU, Spurs, Aston Villa and Portsmouth — will basically be swapping opponents on Tuesday night.

MU will be playing Spurs at Old Trafford while Portsmouth host Aston Villa for two semi-final spots in the Carling Cup. The first match is likely to be telecast live on Astro Supersports, early Wednesday morning, kicking off at 3.45am.

Prior to that bit of lighter football action though, are the much anticipated Super Sunday clashes between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Everton and Liverpool at Merseyside and not to mention, the El Clasico at the Nou Camp in which Barcelona take on Real Madrid.

More on those matches tomorrow.