Weekend Review: England
by Richard Farley on Mar 1, 2010 10:57 AM EST
9 comments
The most memorable weekend in England's 2009-10 season saw silverware dispersed, the league leaders exposed, and a memorable performance from a club dealt a traumatic level of adversity.
England's League Cup final was on Sunday, with Aston Villa - without silverware since 1996 - taking on a Manchester United team hoping to become the first repeat winners in twenty years.
Aston Villa was on the board in the fourth minute when James Milner converted from the spot, a kick awarded after Untied center half Nemanja Vidic pulled down Gabriel Agbonlahor though controversially avoided a red card.
Michael Owen brought United back eight minutes later. In the second half, Wayne Rooney - on for the injured Owen - header United clear. United retains England's League Cup, defeating Aston Villa, 2-1.
Comments on the league, after the jump.
In league, United finds themselves only one point behind Chelsea, the league leaders, who were routed at Stamford Bridge, losing 4-2 to Manchester City. It was a complete implosion on the part of the Blues, their worst loss in this current era of Chelsea football. Braces from Carlos Tévez and Craig Bellamy came while City sat back and waited for an unorganized Chelsea defense opened up for City's counters.
As embarrassing as the final score was Chelsea's behavior. As has become common practice, Chelsea players were often seen squaring up with the referee over petty reasons. Michael Ballack became the prime exemplar of the club's immature behavior when he went knee-high from behind into Tévez, wrapping his legs around the Argentine as he took him to the group. At the time, the score was 4-1. Ballack was given a second yellow and dismissed, leaving Chelsea with nine men (Juliano Belletti had already been dismissed).
Ballack's tackles was terrible and suspension worthy but is being overlooked because of what happened at the Brittania. There, Arsenal suffered another horror injury when Potter Ryan Shawcross was a moment late on a 50/50 ball. Gunner Aaron Ramsey suffered a broken tibula and fibia and had to leave the pitch with an ambulance waiting just beyond the byline.
Arsenal was emotionally devastated, with any players reliving a similar incident that happened two years earlier to Eduardo at St. Andrew's. That day turned Arsenal's season. The Gunners would give away a large lead atop the table, capitulating to Manchester United.
This weekend, Cesc Fabregas brought Arsenal through, converting a penalty kick near stoppage time then unselfishly setting-up Thomas Vermaelen for the final goal in a 3-1 win.
Arsenal is now within three point of Chelsea.
Elsewhere, Tottingham staying in fourth with their 2-1 over Everton, Liverpool won by the same score over Blackburn, and Bolton climbed out of the drop with their 1-0 win over Wolves. The three teams in the drop zone: Portsmouth, Burnley and Hull City.
Other EPL content:
- Here is the link to the EPL Talk Weekend Review Show. As most of you know, I host the show now (though have forgotten to update the left sidebar).
- Set Piece Analysts contributor Ray Curren is spot on with his thoughts on Ryan Shawcross's tackle versus Micheal Ballack's embarrassing display.
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Ramsey
That injury was just horrifying.
Not mediocre. Right about average
A reminder ...
… of the risks each player carries in going onto the pitch. Let’s hope that was see Aaron Ramsey able to reach his considerable potential.
by Richard Farley on Mar 1, 2010 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
You know
an injury is bad when they don’t show video replay. I was watching and part of me wanted to rewind the DVR and look at it again. I couldn’t do it. I have heard a lot about the penalty that Shawcross should receive. What do you think? I realize that it was reckless, but I’m almost positive he is sorry for what happened. The dude cried his way off the field.
I think he'll get at minimum a 3-game suspension.
Honestly, I think that’s all he deserves. It was a bad challenge, but it wasn’t significantly worse than a lot of tackles that end up only getting a booking. This just happened to have a horrific result.
Whatever he gets, I doubt he’ll appeal.
I also think ...
… he gets a three match ban.
by Richard Farley on Mar 3, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
Richard or anyone else........
Isn’t this like the 3rd or 4th guy that has had their leg broken or a serious injury from Shawcross? I am sure that their was no malice intended, but he is like 22 or 23 and has done this before. I was wondering if it because he is too slow a foot maybe? He is a pretty good defender and always seems to have himself positioned well, but he seems really slow and I think that the challenge the other night was because he was just late…..Not making an excuse, but 3 or 4 serious injuries is 2 or 3 too many for such a young player.
Nor do I ...
… though I have hear of other tackles that people are now reevaluating, so I see why keith asks.
I have a lot of trouble condemning Shawcross. If this was endemic to his game, we would see it in other places. I can’t remember a lot of other times where I’ve seen Shawcross go into a tackle and thought “that could have been bad.”
I concede that there’s a possibility there’s some causation behind these correlations. I just don’t see it, yet, though.
by Richard Farley on Mar 3, 2010 1:51 PM EST up reply actions
I was thinking
that Adebayor was out for a long time. I know that he and Shawcross were into it during a game and that Shawcross made a late tackle when Adebayor was out of bounds. He only missed about 3 weeks though. Jeffers was the other. My bad. Thanks guys
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