Quick Point For Sir Alex

Sir Alex Ferguson, brilliant manager he unquestionably is, believes that the media in Britain are picking on his England forward Wayne Rooney and would love to see Uefa ban him for his latest indiscretion (The stamp on an Aalborg player, which is due to be reviewed on Monday).

Now I’m sorry Sir Alex but is this not the same Wayne Rooney currently starring in his own tv show on Sky One, which aims to find the best street player in Britain? And if it is then isn’t Rooney using the media for his own ends, on the show, imaginatively called Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker (actually quite an enjoyable program but beyond the point).

If Ferguson doesn’t want to see Rooney banned in future, then surely he must set about curbing the players temper rather than blaming the press, opposition players, anyone and everyone but the Scouse striker. I’m not saying take the aggression out of Rooneys game, for that isn’t the issue. Rarely does he get in trouble for his aggressive style of play. No Rooney finds trouble when he feels hard done to, or is upset or angry and he goes about looking for retribution/ revenge in the wrong way. Curb the players temper Sir Alex.  Look at the way the great Dennis Bergkamp was ice cool (but the Dutchman still knew how to look after himself and be aggressive when the need arose) and the finest forward at Englands and maybe Uniteds disposal, may just become the world class forward he has looked like potentially being for the last 5 years.

Trouble For King And Maybe Rooney Too

It’s not been a fantastic week for messrs Rooney and King this week as both have fallen foul of the law.

Marlon King, the Wigan Athletic striker currently on loan at Premier League surprise package Hull City, has been arrested accused of assaulting  woman in a nightclub on Sunday evening. King, who scored the winner for the Tigers in their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, was arrested on Wednesday when he voluntarily attended a police station.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a 20-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted at the Soho Revue Bar, in Brewer Street and King has been released on bail until February.

Rooney: Alleged Stamp

On the other hand Rooney could fall foul of Uefa following an incident during Man Uniteds Champions League clash against Aalborg. Rooney scored the equaliser as United drew 2-2 with their Danish counterparts at Old Trafford, yet has been accused of making a dangerous tackle by Aalborg’s Kasper Risgard, which could have left him seriously injured, yet went unpunished by the referee.

I don’t know what happened but he was jumping on my chest,” said Risgard. I think he was a little bit frustrated. Anywhere else but here [Old Trafford] and it would have been a red card.”

Although the French official Laurent Duhamel did not see the incident but if European football’s governing body decides to take action Rooney could face punishment which may lead to him missing the last 16 stage in February.

Ronaldo Off As United Win, Whilst Arsenal Shock Chelsea

Manchester United emerged victorious from the Manchester derby against City by one goal to nil, despite having Cristiano Ronaldo sent off, whilst a Robin van Persie double saw Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

At Eastlands, United were in cruise control during the first half as they created chances and dominated possession against a lacklustre City side. Indeed the most fight shown by City came from a ballboy who forcefully threw the ball back to Ronaldo. With Carrick and Fletcher running midfield, and young starlet Rafael nullifying the threat of Robinho City lacked any sort of spark.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when a Wayne Rooney tap-in gave United the lead, following a shot from Michael Carrick that Joe Hart could only parry into the England forwards path.

In the second half and Ronaldo, expected to be announced as the European footballer of the year on Monday (the Ballon d’or), was sent off in strange circumstances. Having been booked for a foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips when it looked like he had played the ball, the Portugese winger handled from a corner, when had he headed the ball he would have surely scored. The United number 7 claimed he had heard a whistle from the crowd, but referee Howard Webb had no choice but to show him a second yellow card and the red.

As it was, United saw out the final twenty minutes fairly comfortably and took three points from the City of Manchester Stadium.

At Stamford Bridge Chelsea took a lead against Arsenal, lead by new captain Cesc Fabregas, thanks to an own goal by Swiss defender Johan Djourou, as he diverted a Bosingwa cross into his own net. Until that point the first half had been quite even and it continued to be so. After half time and Arsenal were dominated by Chelsea and it looked like a matter of time until the blues extended their lead.

However, cometh the hour and cometh the man as Robin van Persie, the injury-prone Dutch forward, turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes.

Firstly, a crisp right-foot strike slammed the ball into the top right hand corner past Petr Cech, from the edge of the penalty area, despite replays showing he was in an offside position when the ball was played.

Three minutes later and he sent a sweet left foot strike low past Cech’s despairing dive into the bottom right corner of the net, inflicting on Chelsea their second home defeat of the season and giving Arsenal the slightest hope in their chase for the title.

Elsewhere this weekend and Bolton were the big winners as they destroyed Sunderland at the Stadium of Light 4-1. Djibril Cisse had given the Mack’ems the lead, but Matthew Taylor, Gary Cahill and Johan Elmander (2) sealed the win for Gary Megsons in-from side.

Everton were victorious against Harry Redknapps Spurs thanks to a deflected Steven Pienaar effort after 51 minutes. However, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, the prolific Nigerian forward, will miss the rest of the season for David Moyes side with a ruptured achilles, “A huge blow” according to Moyes.

Portsmouth threw away a two goal lead for the second time this week, only to beat Paul Ince’s Blackburn Rovers 3-2. Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe scored early in the second half, only for Matt Derbyshire and Tugay to bring Rovers level. However, ten minutes from time and a Sean Davis goal sealed the victory for Tony Adams’ side.

Bottom of the table West Brom were beaten again 2-1 at Wigan, with Emerson Boyce grabbing the winner, as Albion missed a host of chances. Stoke and Hull contested a hard fought 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium, whilst Aston Villa and Fulham, Middlesbrough and Newcastle both ended goalless.

Fantastic FA Cup Weekend

The 2nd round of the FA Cup sponsored by Eon saw some terrific games and my congratulations go out to all those sides who have progressed to round three, but especially to the giant killers of Histon, who turned over Leeds United, and to Eastwood who emerged victorious against Wycombe Wanderers, the only side in the football league still unbeaten in the league.

Great Advert For The Championship

Just thought that I’d add that the West Midlands derby between Wolves and Birmingham was a great advert for the Championship, which is still the most exciting and unpredictable league in England. An excellent match between the top two ended 1-1, goals from Cameron Jerome for Blues and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for Wolves, and was fiercely competitive, exciting and not lacking in quality. Give me an exciting game like this over one of the numerous bland and boring games the Premier League has dished up this season anyday.

Germany 1-2 England

An England side devoid of regulars emerged victorious in the Olympic Stadium, Berlin against the side ranked number 2 in the world by FIFA.

12 months on from the disappointing defeat at Wembley against Croatia, costing the team a place at Euro 2008 and Steve McClaren his job, Fabio Capellos work-in-progress, as he attempts to assemble a side capable of winning the 2010 World Cup, brushed aside the challenge of Joachim Low’s Euro finalists.

With Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Emile Heskey and Theo Walcott all absent, a very-much second string England side claimed the prize scalp of Germany on home soil. Goals from Matthew Upson, the West Ham United defender winning his 12th cap, and John Terry, the captain, gave the side a deserved victory.

Prior to kick-off and Gabby Agbonlahor, the quicksilver Aston Villa forward, was the surprise inclusion in the starting eleven for his debut, which included Michael Carrick, for his first cap under Capello.

Indeed throughout the 90 minutes England were the brighter of the two sides, showing a poise in possession that was non-existent 12 months ago, prior to Capellos arrival.

Carrick and Gareth Barry at the heart of the midfield hardly sacrificed possession, whilst Stewart Downing, the much-maligned Middlesbrough winger, put in his best display in an England shirt, claiming assists for both goals and showing a conviction in every aspect of his performance, that in prior games has been redundant.

The first goal arrived after 23 minutes, when Rene Adler made a mess of an inswinging Downing corner, leaving Upson to prod into the net from no more than 2 yards. With Agbonlahor looking threatening going forward, alongside Jermain Defoe, and the side looking sound defensively, England were coasting when half-time arrived.

At the interval, Defoe was replaced by Darren Bent, the in-form Tottenham Hotspur striker, whilst James was replaced by Scott Carson, his first appearance since that fateful night 12 months ago.

And it was a mix-up between Carson and captain Terry that enabled Germany to grab an equaliser. A poor ball forward by the impish winger Piotr Trochowski, should have been easily dealt with, but a horrible mix-up enabled Patrick Helmes to nick the ball through the legs of Carson and level the scores. Terry later took responsibility for the mistake, but it will most-likely be Carson who pays for it in the long run.

Terry atoned for the error with a winner in the 83rd minute, when he rose at the far post to head a Downing free-kick into the net, Giving Capellos troops a victory.

 Those regulars who were missing now may well have a fight on their hands to regain their places, whilst the question will be asked: How many with aches and strains will be willing to risk missing the friendly against Spain in February for fear of losing their places? 

England: James (Carson,46), Johnson, Bridge, Terry, Upson, Wright-Phillips (Crouch,90), Barry, Carrick, Downing, Defoe (Bent,46), Agbonlahor (Young,77)

Impressive: Agbonlahor, Downing, Carrick

Unimpressive: Carson, Bent, Bridge