EPL Game Week 25

2011/2012 EPL season is probably the most intriguing one for a  very long time. It is blowing hot and cold after 24 games played and 14 matches to go. This week I shall give you a bumper crop. Harry Redknapp, Fabio Capello, Eden Hazard, Scott Parker, Suarez and Terry.

Manchester United v Liverpool - This will be the cracker of the week. The Anfield club is a Man beater having clobbered both Man U and City red and blue in the Cups. In essence Liverpool can do it again. I read they played a boring game in a drab 0-0 draw with Tottenham where the most exciting part was when a cat strolled onto the pitch. Andy Carroll is getting into his stride and showing his presence now. 

Suarez - Besides, Liverpool has Suarez back to abuse Evra again if needed like Stephen Chow using his words to hurt his enemies but Stephen did so for justice. So what is justice? Why did Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish support Suarez? Is he not a constant liability with his latest kick-in-the-gut on Scott Parker? Meanwhile, that they came back from 0-3 down to level at 3-3 was a great performance by the Red Devils but it was partly Chelsea's inept too. 2-2 I say. Is Kenny Dalglish losing the plot? Focusing on central midfield while playing Carroll alone up front?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=t2lTFHueaQI (see from 5.50)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=JDaEVeK9voM&NR=1 (watch this if you like justice, I like to be in Stephen Chow's position).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=UfISZLOT6EE&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=qR7b-khYaDA&NR=1 (learn how to win a face-off argument)

Blackburn v QPR - Can Blackburn come back after 1-7 debacle? Djibril Cisse scored on his debut for QPR and in his second game got himself sent off and QPR lost the plot. QPR has better conviction under Mark Hughes but Blackburn will be real desperate and QPR is ot Arsenal. Blackburn's Yakubu has 13 goals despite playing for a bottom team and just behind van Persie, Ba, Rooney and Aguero. 1-1.

Bolton v Wigan - Bolton beat Everton 2-1 away then promptly lost 3-0 to Man U. They have beaten Liverpool 3-1, held Arsenal 0-0 and lost 2-0 to Norwich. Wigan has been a lost cause. It is very difficult now. 2-1 to Bolton.

Everton v Chelsea - Everton could not beat Blackburn but could beat Man City and last held by Wigan. Things are not right at Chelsea. Starting with the John Terry saga. Maybe the English FA wanted to keep Terry for Euro 2012 so they will deliver the verdict of his racism charge till after the tournament. Meantime, facing pressure they stripped him of the England captaincy. Two wrongs does not make a right. Is it not simple enough to have an early verdict and if found guilty not only strip him of the captaincy but drop him from the England squad. There will be able replacements only when you give others the opportunity. How will he command respect of his team mates? If he is found not guilty then no need to drop or strip him. You want a solid England skipper? Scott Parker. Everton will grind Chelsea to a halt in a tight game. 1-1.

Fulham v Stoke - Both teams are not bad teams but both have suddenly hit a rough patch and not doing too well. They will probably struggle to a draw. 1-1.

Sunderland v Arsenal - It was vintage Arsenal in an epic 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn but it was only Blackburn but Blackburn had beaten Man U. If Arsenal had been consistent dishing thus out they will be further up the table. Robbie van Persie showed his talent with a clinical hattrick but had it not been for Theo Walcott who did a hattrick of assists to him early on, things could be different. Ah, if only Walcott played like this all the time, he would be destroying opponents in England's way. If you thought Walcott was excellent, then what Alex Oxland Chamberlain did was outstanding.

Alex Oxlande Chamberlain - The teenager besides grabbing 2 goals was a constant menace. Whenever he ran at the Blackburn defenders, he seemed to make time stood still making his opponents looked like practice dummies rooted to the ground. That's how good he was and I haven't seen anything like that for a very long time! If Chamberlain keeps his head screwed to his shoulders, imagine what he and Walcott can do for Arsenal and England. Watch this lad! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsqQZyhVCM4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQs22cEX3ns

Eden Hazard - He is much sought after and admired by Arsene Wenger and any talented player should showcase his talent with the Gunners but if it were for money or trophies it will probably be Man City or Chelsea, Manchester United or Paris St. Germain or more. Hazard is a 21 year old Belgium international and an explosive attacking midfielder or winger who play sin the mould of Lionel Messi. An immense talent with huge potential currently playing for Lille in France. Even if Singapore pay him a minister's pay it will not be enough. I like the name, Eden is like a perfect garden and Hazard means he's hazardous to defenders and opponents. Better get him on your side. My rating: Defender's Nightmare. My tip: Buy him whatever it costs. Watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNGr9KUpPdI

Sunderland has been outstanding climbing to 8th under O'Neill. They will put out a stern test and Arsenal sometimes can't play ugly. If Arsenal showed the same commitment and confidence as last week they will win. 1-2.

Swansea v Norwich - Swansea (10th) and Norwich (9th) are a breath of fresh air for the newly promoted. They have mirrored one another in terms of good performances. This could be an exciting match to watch with open, attacking soccer. A draw would be a fair result. 2-2.

Tottenham v Newcastle - This will be an interesting match. Spurs was lack lustre in their goalless draw to Liverpool. They should be flying because they are playing the best and most exciting soccer on this planet other than Barcelona and Arsenal. Even their fullbacks Kyle Walker and Assou-Ekotto play like wingers.

Scott Parker - He was kicked in the gut by walking time-bomb Suarez. Just before that Man City's Balotelli walk on Parker's head. Parker is a man of steel. There is none who could win a ball as effectively as him or provide that crucial crunching tackle and he puts the ball back in possession very well. He will hold the fort for England as he has done for Spurs. Since Terry has been dropped from captaincy, the best man for the England captaincy is Scott Parker. Capable, brave and leading by example. This inevitably leads us to Harry Redknapp.

Harry Redknapp - He was manager of Bournemouth, West Ham Portsmouth (twice), Southampton and now Tottenham Hotspurs. His son Jamie used to play for Liverpool and as captain too and is the uncle of Frank Lampard. He has excellent knowledge of the game, is a great motivator, man mover and a great judge of footballers. He survivied a near fatal accident while in Rome during the 1990 World Cup (that could explain his facial expresion). Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard all came through him at West Ham. Redknapp is the best candidate for the England job if it comes a calling. After the recent court case for tax and money issues, he was cleared of any wrongdoing and at the same time Fabio Capello has suddenly resigned.

A few things are happening and they will decide what happens. Unless the FA does not like him, he is having too much fun at Spurs to quit with the possibility of winning the title, maybe the Tottenham may not let him go but any son of the soil would like to manage their country. He has brought life to sell-by date players and made them come alive, spotted talents and play attractive soccer. Will an Englishman end up like our very own Fandi Ahmad?
Meantime, Newcastle is still having a great run this season. Demba Ba scored on his return from Africa representing Senegal. Watch their new signing no. 9 and Ba's countryman who scored a wonder winner against Villa. Tottenham's defence will have to be at their best to contain them. White Hart Lane could be too tough to go to. 3-2 win for Spurs.

Wolves v WBA - The difference between the lower rung or bottom teams is one of consistency. Same like your golf game. There are guys out there who could play the same or better each time whereas the others find it hard to even maintain let alone get better. WBA plays at the Hawthorns and are called the Baggies as a nickname. When first formed in 1878, it was just called Albion. They moved around until they settled at the Hawthorns. In the old days, gatekeepers would gather the day's gate takings in pennies in large cloth bags to the office under the stands and the crwod should shout "here comes the bag men" which eventually becomes "here comes the Baggies" as a chant. But of course, there are several versions of the history. 1-2 to the Baggies.

Aston Villa v Manchester City - Villa seems very similar to Everton this season in terms of form and result. Still tough and hanging in there but not very inspirational or promising or consistent. City themselves are finding that sometimes it is not a stroll in the park even with money. Remember, Villa did had Chelsea beaten away from home by 3-1. They can possibly surprise the visitor. 1-2 to the Sky Blues.

Fabio Capello - He lost his job speaking out on the John Terry issue. When Terry did the first folly, Capello dropped him as captain. Right decision. For both counts when proven guilty I would sack the fellow. Racial abuse will affect everyone. Even people from the same country, same race but different dialects, same country but different states, everything same but rich and poor, age, sex, size, power, whatever. Any form of abuse is a no-no.

Terry was alleged to have racially abused Anton Ferdinand brother of former captain and England teammate Rio Ferdinand. If found guilty, he should not only be dropped as captain but also drop from the England set up altogether. The English FA and its management are hyprocrites. They first postponed the verdict till the Euro 2012 is over thus allowing Terry to walk so he could play and captain England. Justice must be done with the soonest possible. If guilty, charged him, if not he is innocent. Then under pressure from various quarters, they decided to strip him of the captaincy. Two wrongs do not make a right. Capello stood up for his man which in principle means he is innocent until proven guilty. I believe a man must be given his fair trial even if one suspects a person could be capable of doing certain things. Just like an ex convict, if something is stolen in a dressing room, most people will think it was him but justice must be swift.  Find him guilty, charge him and drop him. Period.

Anyway, how are we to know if Capello was looking for an opportunity to exit? Maybe he felt hell awaits him after Euro 2012.


This is politics at play. Capello is a multiple award winning soccer manager. He won everything there is to win for clubs and repeated that with different clubs. His yearly salary is six million pounds. They found him wanting after his first contract term and wanted him sacked but to sack him the compensation could be more than double. The FA found a most appropriate time to ask him to resign. How are we to know? We need Wikileaks. Finally, no one is indispensable. When Terry is gone, a new player would emerge. One door closes and another opens.

So the question on everyone's mind is who will replace him. Guus Hiddink? Harry "Houdini" Redknapp? I say the latter. C'mon Harry!