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Fish & Chip Shots: Sudden Impact
One week is in the books and Goal.com’s Shane Evans is here to break down all that was in the first true FCS of the season.
Aug 18, 2009 4:07:39 PM
By Shane Evans
One week in the books...and what a week it was. Or matchday, whatever you want to call it. Point is, we were certainly treated to a great set of opening matches.
There were a few obvious highlights, and a bunch of disappointments as well. No performance was more shocking than what Arsenal did against Everton, or what Everton did to Everton, depending on your perspective. That is where we’ll start.
Firstly, who saw this coming? Not just from Arsenal’s side, but from Everton’s? Would you ever have thought that the team who ended last season in an impressive 5th would start out this campaign allowing six unanswered (and amazingly soft) goals? Not I.
After the third goal went in, I was shocked. The Toffees looked lazy, lethargic, lackadaisical, to name a few “L” adjectives. Just an absolutely piss-poor performance by a team that many picked to challenge for a spot in the ‘Big Four’ this season.
On the flip side of that, Arsenal were incredible. This is how Arsene Wenger wants his team to play. Flowing, creative and most of all, overwhelming. That is how they came at Everton. It was as though they barely had a chance to catch their breath and the score had ballooned to 4-0.
Does this mean Arsenal are now the team to beat in the EPL? Certainly not. But you have to wonder if they keep this up, will any team in the league be able to stop them? The performance was that impressive. My gut says this was a one off, so don’t get ahead of yourselves Gunners fans, not yet.
The rest of the league displayed an amazing amount of parity and success on the road. It’s really good to see that because it helps to dispel the top-heavy stereotypes that have riddled the EPL for so long.
One match that certainly helped to break that was Tottenham’s dominance of Liverpool at White Hart Lane. The only match I picked incorrectly this week, I might add.
Spurs were just up for it and started their season not on the right foot, but on a great foot. ‘Ol Harry couldn’t have wished for a better start to things. His side just out-muscled a punch-less Reds side who continued the form of their preseason which saw them pick up two wins from seven matches.
Similar to the situation with Arsenal, It could be a one off, so Liverpool shouldn’t be too worried. I’ll say this: not a great way to start their campaign to unseat Man United as champs.
Last note for the week has to be how Wigan played against Villa, on the road. I was thoroughly impressed with how Roberto Martinez had his team playing and how easily they put down Aston Villa. Another big surprise, could Wigan be in for their second successful season in a row? If they keep playing that way, it’s all but certain.
Pickled Onions
So in last week’s TFE, I took Chelsea, Manchester and Liverpool to win. I got two out of three, and could have went 0-for-0. Chelsea were held until a late Drogba goal saved them, and Manchester United didn’t exactly look all that impressive.
Obviously, we all know what happened to Liverpool as they were soundly beaten by Spurs in North London. I would like to say I didn’t see it coming, but you had to wonder about the Reds off-season and how they played in their seven friendlies leading into the year. Has Rafa lost the plot or is it just me?
Overall: 3-1
Not a bad start to the year, much better than my form last term, that is for sure. With some midweek matches ahead (two of which to be previewed in this column), my record could take a sharp jump, or devastating blow in the next few days.
Mushy Peas
I think we have to start my little news section with Rafa the Gaffer. Reports are suggesting that stingy American owners are only allowing him another £2 million to spend on players before the end of the transfer window.
£2 million? Leicester probably have more than that. Liverpool can’t by a player to crack their first 18 for that much money. I know we’ve heard Rafa complain about lack of funds all summer, but actually hearing the number totals is quite shocking.
My question is, how do Liverpool get into such poor fiscal shape? They have the supporters, the profile, it just doesn’t make sense to me.
Outside of that, we can turn to another frustrating transfer situation, that of Joleon Lescott and Manchester City. If you think Lescott wasn’t trying to play his way out the door with that laughable showing against Arsenal on Saturday, you’re a bit naive.
It’s a bit sad to me that a player can just switch off when he doesn’t get what he wants. Obviously, he wasn’t terrible, but you could tell his mind was elsewhere. Will the move happen now? I think it’s much more likely than it was a week ago.
The Bacon (as in Bringing It Home): The ‘I Didn’t Realize There Were Matches Midweek, So I’m Squeezing A Couple Into FCS’ Edition
Burnley vs. Manchester United (Turf Moor, August 19th, 2:45 p.m. ET)
It’ll be Burnely’s first home match in the EPL and who better to christen the occasion than league champions Manchester United?
Thoroughly beaten at the weekend by a strong Stoke squad, the Clarets will want to show their home fans they can hang with the big boys. Frankly, they can’t.
United barely beat Birmingham on Sunday, but shouldn’t have much trouble putting away the home side.
FCS Prediction: Sir Alex gets his boys firing on all cylinders and they see off Burnley handily, 2-0.
Liverpool vs. Stoke (Anfield, August 19th, 3:00 p.m. ET)
They may have slipped up in their first match against Tottenham and no doubt have felt Rafa’s wrath ever since. It was in truth a sloppy performance, one that Reds fans should not be happy about, not at all. It took a penalty for them to score, and that was really as close as came all match.
Against a pesky Stoke side, in front of the KOP, I expect the Reds to do better and could very well dispel them but a goal or two, but knowing Tony Pulis and how he does things, it’ll most likely be a close one.
FCS Prediction: Stoke stick around the entire match, but Liverpool are able to avoid early season disaster and take the full three points in a 2-1 match.
And now back to your regularly scheduled FCS content…
Player of the Week: Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal
Was there ever any doubt? Instrumental in the Gunner’s 6-1 thrasing of Everton, Fabregas had his hand in practically all of the goals scored, including the two that he netted himself. If he can keep this up, Arsene will be a very happy gaffer.
Not-so Team of the Week: Everton
Yikes. Like seriously, ugly yikes. Sloppy defending, no spirit, lack of togetherness, Everton looked ragged in week one. The best example of this? Eduardo’s goal. Four blue shirts in the box, none of them moving or reacting to the ball hitting off the post. Eduardo could have walked on his hands and got there before Leighton Baines and co. realized what was going on.
Goal of the Week: Hugo Rodallega, Wigan
Wowzers. That was something special. One of the best volley goals I have seen in some time. Ball comes in down the right and he just takes it on the bounce and gives Friedel no chance at saving the ball coming across to the far post. Stunning stuff from the Colombian. With goals like that, Wigan won’t really miss Heskey or Valencia or any of the other players they lost this season.
Gaffe of the Week: Gomes, Tottenham
What a ridiculous play to get a penalty called on you. The ball was practically on the byline, why risk the whistle in that situation. Spurs fans better hope they keep scoring goals because they can certainly get used to screw-ups like that from Gomes between the sticks.
Game of the Week: Everton 1-6 Arsenal
Incredible stuff from the Gunners, they took everyone by surprise with this beating of Everton. Might be a bit early to be calling them the next champs, but they sure looked good. It’ll be interesting to see how they fare in the Champions League against Celtic and then two weeks from now away to Manchester United.
Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com. His feature, "Fish & Chip Shots" appears weekly. Contact Shane at shane.evans@goal.com with questions, comments and concerns or follow him on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/shanevans
For more news on England, visit Goal.com's England section!
One week in the books...and what a week it was. Or matchday, whatever you want to call it. Point is, we were certainly treated to a great set of opening matches.
There were a few obvious highlights, and a bunch of disappointments as well. No performance was more shocking than what Arsenal did against Everton, or what Everton did to Everton, depending on your perspective. That is where we’ll start.
Firstly, who saw this coming? Not just from Arsenal’s side, but from Everton’s? Would you ever have thought that the team who ended last season in an impressive 5th would start out this campaign allowing six unanswered (and amazingly soft) goals? Not I.
After the third goal went in, I was shocked. The Toffees looked lazy, lethargic, lackadaisical, to name a few “L” adjectives. Just an absolutely piss-poor performance by a team that many picked to challenge for a spot in the ‘Big Four’ this season.
On the flip side of that, Arsenal were incredible. This is how Arsene Wenger wants his team to play. Flowing, creative and most of all, overwhelming. That is how they came at Everton. It was as though they barely had a chance to catch their breath and the score had ballooned to 4-0.
Does this mean Arsenal are now the team to beat in the EPL? Certainly not. But you have to wonder if they keep this up, will any team in the league be able to stop them? The performance was that impressive. My gut says this was a one off, so don’t get ahead of yourselves Gunners fans, not yet.
The rest of the league displayed an amazing amount of parity and success on the road. It’s really good to see that because it helps to dispel the top-heavy stereotypes that have riddled the EPL for so long.
One match that certainly helped to break that was Tottenham’s dominance of Liverpool at White Hart Lane. The only match I picked incorrectly this week, I might add.
Spurs were just up for it and started their season not on the right foot, but on a great foot. ‘Ol Harry couldn’t have wished for a better start to things. His side just out-muscled a punch-less Reds side who continued the form of their preseason which saw them pick up two wins from seven matches.
Similar to the situation with Arsenal, It could be a one off, so Liverpool shouldn’t be too worried. I’ll say this: not a great way to start their campaign to unseat Man United as champs.
Last note for the week has to be how Wigan played against Villa, on the road. I was thoroughly impressed with how Roberto Martinez had his team playing and how easily they put down Aston Villa. Another big surprise, could Wigan be in for their second successful season in a row? If they keep playing that way, it’s all but certain.
Pickled Onions
So in last week’s TFE, I took Chelsea, Manchester and Liverpool to win. I got two out of three, and could have went 0-for-0. Chelsea were held until a late Drogba goal saved them, and Manchester United didn’t exactly look all that impressive.
Obviously, we all know what happened to Liverpool as they were soundly beaten by Spurs in North London. I would like to say I didn’t see it coming, but you had to wonder about the Reds off-season and how they played in their seven friendlies leading into the year. Has Rafa lost the plot or is it just me?
Overall: 3-1
Not a bad start to the year, much better than my form last term, that is for sure. With some midweek matches ahead (two of which to be previewed in this column), my record could take a sharp jump, or devastating blow in the next few days.
Mushy Peas
I think we have to start my little news section with Rafa the Gaffer. Reports are suggesting that stingy American owners are only allowing him another £2 million to spend on players before the end of the transfer window.
£2 million? Leicester probably have more than that. Liverpool can’t by a player to crack their first 18 for that much money. I know we’ve heard Rafa complain about lack of funds all summer, but actually hearing the number totals is quite shocking.
My question is, how do Liverpool get into such poor fiscal shape? They have the supporters, the profile, it just doesn’t make sense to me.
Outside of that, we can turn to another frustrating transfer situation, that of Joleon Lescott and Manchester City. If you think Lescott wasn’t trying to play his way out the door with that laughable showing against Arsenal on Saturday, you’re a bit naive.
It’s a bit sad to me that a player can just switch off when he doesn’t get what he wants. Obviously, he wasn’t terrible, but you could tell his mind was elsewhere. Will the move happen now? I think it’s much more likely than it was a week ago.
The Bacon (as in Bringing It Home): The ‘I Didn’t Realize There Were Matches Midweek, So I’m Squeezing A Couple Into FCS’ Edition
Burnley vs. Manchester United (Turf Moor, August 19th, 2:45 p.m. ET)
It’ll be Burnely’s first home match in the EPL and who better to christen the occasion than league champions Manchester United?
Thoroughly beaten at the weekend by a strong Stoke squad, the Clarets will want to show their home fans they can hang with the big boys. Frankly, they can’t.
United barely beat Birmingham on Sunday, but shouldn’t have much trouble putting away the home side.
FCS Prediction: Sir Alex gets his boys firing on all cylinders and they see off Burnley handily, 2-0.
Liverpool vs. Stoke (Anfield, August 19th, 3:00 p.m. ET)
They may have slipped up in their first match against Tottenham and no doubt have felt Rafa’s wrath ever since. It was in truth a sloppy performance, one that Reds fans should not be happy about, not at all. It took a penalty for them to score, and that was really as close as came all match.
Against a pesky Stoke side, in front of the KOP, I expect the Reds to do better and could very well dispel them but a goal or two, but knowing Tony Pulis and how he does things, it’ll most likely be a close one.
FCS Prediction: Stoke stick around the entire match, but Liverpool are able to avoid early season disaster and take the full three points in a 2-1 match.
And now back to your regularly scheduled FCS content…
Player of the Week: Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal
Was there ever any doubt? Instrumental in the Gunner’s 6-1 thrasing of Everton, Fabregas had his hand in practically all of the goals scored, including the two that he netted himself. If he can keep this up, Arsene will be a very happy gaffer.
Not-so Team of the Week: Everton
Yikes. Like seriously, ugly yikes. Sloppy defending, no spirit, lack of togetherness, Everton looked ragged in week one. The best example of this? Eduardo’s goal. Four blue shirts in the box, none of them moving or reacting to the ball hitting off the post. Eduardo could have walked on his hands and got there before Leighton Baines and co. realized what was going on.
Goal of the Week: Hugo Rodallega, Wigan
Wowzers. That was something special. One of the best volley goals I have seen in some time. Ball comes in down the right and he just takes it on the bounce and gives Friedel no chance at saving the ball coming across to the far post. Stunning stuff from the Colombian. With goals like that, Wigan won’t really miss Heskey or Valencia or any of the other players they lost this season.
Gaffe of the Week: Gomes, Tottenham
What a ridiculous play to get a penalty called on you. The ball was practically on the byline, why risk the whistle in that situation. Spurs fans better hope they keep scoring goals because they can certainly get used to screw-ups like that from Gomes between the sticks.
Game of the Week: Everton 1-6 Arsenal
Incredible stuff from the Gunners, they took everyone by surprise with this beating of Everton. Might be a bit early to be calling them the next champs, but they sure looked good. It’ll be interesting to see how they fare in the Champions League against Celtic and then two weeks from now away to Manchester United.
Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com. His feature, "Fish & Chip Shots" appears weekly. Contact Shane at shane.evans@goal.com with questions, comments and concerns or follow him on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/shanevans
For more news on England, visit Goal.com's England section!
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