Match Of The Day a few late thoughts (Part 1)
Dan Tracey
February 4, 2016
1,683 Views
- Yes Match Of The Day may have been on Two nights ago but I’ve only got round to watching half of it so here’s Part 1 of a few quick thoughts.
- Leicester overcome another hurdle and for every week that we say “Well now is surely the time that they will slip away” they surprise once again but then again when they’ve got this far is it still a surprise?
Jamie Vardy’s outrageous volley from about 30 yards grabbed all the headlines but the strike looks even better once you see Riyad Mahrez’s pass for the assist. A truly breathtaking strike. They’ve overcome one of their tests, it’s now time for Manchester City this Saturday in which is unbelievably a top of the table clash. These next two games are going to be huge for Claudio Ranieri’s side. If they can come through those and still be the top of the table then with 12 games to go you have to make them very serious contenders for the title.
- As for Liverpool, I think that defeat probably kills off any realistic hopes of finishing in the Top 4 this season. It looks like they will either have to win a domestic cup to secure European Football but not forgetting they could still win this season’s Europa League which now has the extra carrot of a Champions League place the following season. It’s still very much a work in progress for Jurgen Klopp, the rest of the season will now be a case of assessing who will be sticking around in the Summer and who will be shown the exit as Klopp will have a sizeable rebuilding task to undertake at Anfield.
- Manchester City had their first game since the news that Pep Guardiola is to take over at The Etihad next season and they managed to come away with all 3 points, Sergio Aguero got the winning Goal but Joe Hart was certainly the difference on Tuesday night. It wasn’t a classic City performance as they seemingly looked below par while playing in a 4-4-2 but they got a crucial win which sets up Saturday’s encounter with Leicester very nicely. They certainly don’t look like their dropping tools for Manuel Pellegrini just yet.
- Sunderland did everything but score on Tuesday, they gave Joe Hart’s Goal a hammering and were unfortunate to hit the woodwork in the first half while debutant Lamine Kone should have put away a guilt edge chanced when unmarked. The Ivory Coast Defender managing to head well wide when presented with a free opportunity. Sam Allardyce will need his new signings to bed in quickly if they are to have any chance of beating the drop.
- Spurs vs Norwich I’ve given my views at length already – http://realfootballman.com/2016/02/03/norwich-vs-tottenham-a-few-quick-thoughts/
- Manchester United topped off a good week with a comfortable win over Stoke. That win keeps them in the hunt for a Top 4 place and with the side actually scoring in the first half for a change it was much more “United Like” performance. That and coupled with the win over Derby has eased the pressure on Louis Van Gaal but only slightly as we know by now how this works, failure to beat Chelsea on Sunday and the Van-Gaal-O-Meter will swing back the other way. But it was another great performance from Anthony Martial who seems to be one of the few positives from an indifferent United season so far. All is calm at Old Trafford for now
- As for Stoke, a pretty miserable week by comparison. Out of both domestic Cup competitions and a comprehensive defeat at Old Trafford. They never really turned up at Old Trafford on Tuesday as Mark Hughes had a miserable return to The Theatre of Dreams. Not a good week but it’s still been a decent season so far especially in terms of the playing style progression and being in the top half of the table is certainly not to be sniffed at.
- Part 2 might follow, depends if I can be bothered to watch it or not. You’ll have to visit the blog and find out
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