A Few Conclusions from Weekend Football
It was another exciting week in the English Premier League and although most headlines belonged to the Liverpool vs. Chelsea game at Anfield, there were some other great performances as well at the weekend that deserve praise.
Newcastle continued their impressive run in the league and claimed their 2nd straight win. Although, the last one was over their fierce rivals Sunderland, their latest surely must have tasted better as it came against Arsenal and that too at the
Emirates.
In another match, Manchester United showed great grit and determination to find a winner in injury time for the second time in as many games.
Here are a few conclusions from this weekend's football in the Premier League:
1) Carroll Instead of Davies for England:
Alan Green of BBC has suggested that if Rooney isn't fit to take his place in the England squad then his place should automatically go to the barrel-chested Bolton front man who scored two goals for Bolton at the weekend. But, Davies should really be left
doing what he is doing for Bolton and let him enjoy his golden run of form for his club side.
Davies is obviously a good player but the English side needs to play the game to their strengths and more so to the weaknesses of their opponents. When the game is played in the heat of summer against opponents who refuse to give the ball away, Davies will
surely not be a good option as he likes to feed on the supply from the midfield.
His counterpart Andy Carroll, on the other hand, is a much more physical player who harries the opponents by closing spaces in the attacking third. Carroll has better strength, more pace and although he is raw but still remains a special talent that needs
nurturing. If given the proper attention, he can become England’s own Christian Veiri.
2) Fletcher, the new midfield terrier for Manchester United:
Manchester United have notched up six wins in 19 days and one man who has played in all but one of these wins is Darren Fletcher.
A couple of years ago, Fletcher was regarded as a fringe player who played only a bits and pieces part in the United squad. Fast forward two years and Fletcher is now the heart and soul of United midfield. He is an under-rated footballer in football circles
but at United, his importance is pivotal. His goal in the Champions League against Bursaspor was classy and his assist in the game against Wolves on Sunday was as good as you will see anywhere.
Fletcher is involved more and more in the United team and in the absence of Hargreaves, he has carried the mantle with impeccable ease. His rise to prominence has been meteoric and he has now become the lynchpin of United midfield.
3) All praise for the depth of Manchester United squad:
In the game against Wolves at the weekend, Manchester United had no less than 8 players missing through injury or illness and yet United fielded out a team that could match the best out there.
United had Rooney, Berbatov, Michael Owen, Valencia, Nani, Carrick, Anderson and Gibson missing but they still fielded a strong team and came out unscathed from the game. A feat that is difficult to see being emulated anywhere else in the world.
If Barcelona have Messi, Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Pique and Busquets missing, it is difficult for them to field a half decent side. Same goes for Real Madrid. If Ronaldo, Higuain, Ozil, Di Maria, Alonso, Ramos, Khedira and Benzema are out, Real can't
put out a side that can guarantee them a point but United did and came away with all three points. Credit to them for having such remarkable depth in their squad.
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