The weekend before “That Game At Stamford Bridge”

After watching the carling cup final on Sunday, I can only imagine Arsene Wenger must be wondering what it takes for his side to win a major trophy! If the game were to have entered extra time, you had to believe arsenal had the power and guile to craft a winner to give them their first trophy in over 5 years. However, it wasn’t to be as a keeper/defender mis-communication allowed Obafemi Martens to score the simplest of simple cup final winners.
Congratulations to Alex Mcleish and Birmingham who have shown over their consecutive seasons back in the top tier of English football, that they are dogged and determined enough to stay in many a game which other teams would have struggled to overcome such classy opposition.
With the cup final taking the main attention, it was left to the strugglers at the bottom to gain ground on teams in and around them in the fight for premier league survival. Wolves and West Ham were the big-movers this weekend as they cantered to impressive home wins, against Blackpool and Liverpool respectively. Wolves, being at home, were expected to win against a team without a suspended Charlie Adam. Saturday’s game showed the importance of Adam to Blackpool’s midfield where he has been described by many pundit as the ‘quarterback’ dishing the passes out the wingers on either side of the pitch. As far as West Ham are concerned, beating a Liverpool is surely a massive shot in the arm, as neutrals would surely have put the team from Merseyside down as firm favourites given their recent run of good form. However, it was fully deserved as West Ham played some lovely attacking football and, on the back end, did a good job of neutralising Liverpool’s protagonist Stevie Gerrard. Given that they have the capabilities to beat Liverpool and Manchester United at home, 4-0 in the carling cup, it makes you wonder how the hammers find themselves in the position near the wrong end of the table. With players like Scott Parker, Mark noble and Carlton cole, they have players who play for their team and for their fans. It is so inspiring to see modern day players show the emotion that these kind of players do at Upton Park. 
A team who seem to be coming to a standstill is Wigan Athletic. They conceded 4 again, this time at home to seemingly-incumbent champions, Manchester United. Having slipped to dead last, it is time for Roberto Martinez to perhaps start concentrating on results rather than performances, which may end up costing the Latics a place in the top flight of English football and himself, the managers role.
Also taking place on Saturday was an impressive display from Aston Villa who saw off a resilient Blackburn side, to comfortably run out 4-1 winners. Villa may well be a side to look out for coming to the end of the season. They have a manager who has big club experience in Gerard Houllier and a team full of players with a pace and youth about them, that they could be one of the entertainers as the season makes it’s way into the last quarter.
Another team to continue their steady season was Bolton, coming away from St James’ park with a creditable 1-1 draw. I’d say this was a very fair result, as Bolton have been on a consistent run of form yet Newcastle have had a formidable home record this season, beating teams 5-0, 5-1 and having that memorable 4-4 epic with Arsenal.

To round off the weekend, Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham with ex-manager making his 1st return to Eastlands since his premature departure last season. After this result, it is fair to say that city have been ruled out of the title race this season. This should be a warning to the owners there, that the team comes first, and trying to keep so many top-class players happy is a task any manager would struggle dealing with. A prime example is of course the leaders Manchester United. As mad as it sounds, I don’t believe they have the best squad of players from first-choice to reserve. However, Sir Alex Ferguson gets his team to play to their strengths and one of these is their overall togetherness. There have been so many times this season, and over the last few seasons, where they have come back from being beaten, and on the odd occasion quite soundly, to gain a positive result. A game which illuminates this the best is away at Blackpool in late January. Trailing 2-0 with a mere 15 minutes to go, many a side would have no belief of getting even a draw out of the game. United go on to score 3 goals to snatch victory from plucky Blackpool. A sign of champions which the other teams in the title race simply haven’t shown with the regularity that united have. 
Until this happens, I believe it is inevitable that United will continue to win championship after championship with Ferguson in charge.