EURO 2012 Blog

First weekly report on Premier league in England by EURO 2012 contributor Mark Thompson
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Sky Sports’ hyperbole fuelled “Super Sunday” and Saturday football schedules rarely succeed in living up to their own self proclaimed “super-ness” but EPL fans up and down the country will be left with plenty to talk about after this weekend’s thoroughly entertaining fixtures.

As the Blue Moon soared across Manchester signalling what could be seminal power shift in the nation’s nascent football capital, the two north London clubs (Spurs and Arsenal) relied on some Dutch courage to see them through difficult games, whilst a first West London derby in 15 years for Q.P.R. left jaws firmly dropped. Meanwhile, a Midlands derby had penalties, an all too happy flag-waving linesman and West Brom’s Woy chastising “wicked tackles”.

It all begs the question: where to begin? The natural starting point has to be the Manchester derby, where Roberto Mancini led the Citizens across town to Old Trafford. Despite all the excitement in the pre-match lead up not much was made of United’s record at home: a formidable 19 successive victories. But as seasoned fans and pundits will opine, form goes firmly out of the window on such occasions. And so it did on Sunday. Johnny Evans partnered Rio at the back and will want to wipe the afternoon from his memory bank after a wretched display culminated in a last-man, last-ditch foul which saw him red carded. United had a promising opening 30 minutes and with the score delicately poised at 0-1, Evans’ dismissal will no doubt be the straw clutched at by the red half of the city this weekend. From then on it was one-way traffic. As United shuffled the pack to sure up the defence, City’s Silva ran riot in the centre with some masterful midfield work and an assist of the season contender for the final nail in the coffin: Edin Dzeko’s well taken second and City’s unbelievable sixth.

As Manchester United’s home turf was being drowned in renditions of Blue Moon, Arsenal were concurrently trying to get their season underway against a bogey team for the Gunners, Stoke City. Since Ryan Shawcross broke young Aaron Ramsey’s leg in February 2010 there’s been a bad taste left in the mouths of both sets of supporters, with plenty of bickering between both sets of managers, players and fans. With all this in mind it was as heart warming to see Ramsey back on the pitch as it was to see his progression into a cultured central midfielder back underway. The Welshman looked on form, nearly opening the scoring with a rifled effort from outside the box before playing Gervinho in with a cross-field pass that he was unlucky to convert. After such an abysmal season by Arsenal standards and the score still at 0-0, the crowd grew restless. Up stepped Ramsey with a delightful looping through ball over the hapless Stoke defence for Gervinho to slot home-one nil to the Arsenal. But not for long. Arsene Wenger will feel aggrieved with the soft foul awarded to Stoke but a well worked set-piece undone Arsenal once again before Peter Crouched poked home from a yard out. Over 50% of Arsenal’s conceded goals last term came from dead ball situations (more than any other team) and they’re already leading the same league this year despite the addition of German man-giant, Per Mertesacker. Not a lot happened thereon, until in-form Dutchman Robin van Persie came on off the bench to score two. That’s six wins in seven for the Arsenal and a sweet reproach for fans to shove at naysayers from the campaign’s early failings.

Back in the North-West, Blackburn Rovers gave Tottenham Hotspurs a run for their money, who, like their hated rivals Arsenal, had to rely on two superb goals from their own Dutchman, Rafael van der Vaart, to get them out of a sticky situation. Amid protests about his tenure and a cheeky sign highlighting his woeful win percentage, time at Ewood Park looks well and truly up for Steve Kean.

Critics of football officialdom would have taken great interest in the highlights of the derby games at Loftus Road and Villa Park, where Q.P.R. hosted West London rivals, Chelsea, and Aston Villa welcomed their midland neighbours, W.B.A. respectively. It started badly for Andre Villas-Boas’ men as wild-haired David Luiz needlessly bundled over Helguson, who got back up to beat Cech from the spot. Minutes later Wright-Phillips raced away down the by-line only for Bosingwa to drag him down, and as last man, he had to go. Seemingly frustrated with the decision, Didier Drogba lost control of the ball in the middle of the park before losing control altogether, leaping off the floor in a two footed lunge. Again, a red card, and again-despite the Blues’ indignation- a deserved one. Despite the two-man advantage Q.P.R. made hard work of what should have been a straightforward stride to the finishing line as Chelsea almost drew level and had enough chances to even win the game. Somehow they survived. Bragging rights went the way of the home team whilst Chelsea will have to regroup and prepare for a tough fixture against Arsenal next week,
minus the suspended Messrs Drogba and Bosingwa.

Whilst the ref got the big decisions correct in West London, the men in black will come under harsh criticisms for their failings in the midlands on Saturday. Considering he ran the line with Howard Webb in the World Cup Final last year, Darren Cann will most likely be under review for his part in the Herd sending off and penalty decision. After a failed cross, Herd and Olsson got tangled momentarily before moving away with neither player bemoaning foul play. That was before Cann stuck his nose in signalling for a penalty for a “stamp” by Herd. Upon review there was no such incident and Olsson’s bewildered expression upon seeing the decision go so well in his favour should have been enough of an indication that perhaps Cann was wrong to meddle this time. The unfair red card for Herd should be a sign that the linesman won’t be warmly received
next time he pays a visit to Aston Villa. But that wasn’t the end of incompetence from the officials. Earlier in the half Alan Hutton added another notch to his bedpost marked “let ‘em know you’re there” tackles as he ran at speed, high, and two-footed through Shane Long sending him spiralling in the air lucky to have his head, shoulders, knees and toes still intact. The decision: a Villa throw-in. Long soon went off injured but this “tackle” is the type that needs to be stamped out of the game and at least see the introduction of post match punishment from the F.A.. What makes it all the more ludicrous was Herd’s red minutes later in the same half.

So there it is, or was, a fantastic weekend in the Premier League. Big shouts go to the two-goal Wolves comeback against Swansea, a return to winning ways for Everton as they beat Fulham, and everyone’s favourite newbies, Norwich, as they upset the Kop courtesy of a Grant Holt header to rescue a draw. But with such a super weekend, you’d need a super blog to fit it all in.

Till next time.

Mark Thompson