BLOG (58)
Berbatov – from disinterested observer to premier goal scorer
It has taken a few days for me to be able to talk about this week’s BPL matches.
The Liverpool Man U match was a rollercoaster. But in all honesty Man U was the best team on the day.
One observation I will make is that Fernando Torres needs to get the number of Dimitar Berbatov's body language specialist.
Berbatov has gone from a disinterested bystander last season into Man U's premier goal scorer this season and a message to Uncle Roy - Liverpool MUST play 4-4-2 every match everywhere.
In other matches between the BPL 'also rans' no clear pattern is evident.
Up the top of the ladder Chelsea continue their goal scoring spree. We will know a lot more about their status after they play Man City this weekend.
Arsenal failed a small test this week after their defence failed to clear their line late against Sunderland.
Without Fabregas for 3 weeks for me the same question marks about Arsenal remain.
My final two observations for the week are that pre-season matches against Australian A-League teams has hardly been a great preparation for Everton and when new coaches are appointed I don't want them to ask for patience from fans - I want them to talk about ambition.
Warren Diego
Find the Joy Scott McDonald and Goals will Flow
Written by Carlos Alberto DiegoOpen Letter to Scott McDonald
Dear Scott,
Hope you are well and that you’ve resisted the pre-game KFC temptation. I could’ve been anything if it wasn’t for the KFC temptation but I digress.
The real reason I’m writing is because I’m worried for you.
Not because you’re short of a quid or two. Not because you’re short of a kilo or two (thanks to that damned KFC). I’m not even worried that you are short full stop. No I’m worried because your Nullarbor sized goal drought at international level for the Socceroos may be getting to you.
Yep 18 games without a goal for the Socceroos when you are selected in the team as a clinical goal poaching ‘prong’ is not a flash record. However embarrassing this record may be, up until recently, I have been impressed with the way you have attempted to stay positive. But I noticed in your bemused look after each of your ‘open goal’ fluffs against Poland last time out for Australia, that you might be starting to believe that your first goal may never come.
I suppose Pim endlessly referring to you as ‘Scotty Mac’ during his reign and him being wedded to ‘one prong’ up front formation is hard to put behind you. The psychological scars can linger for a long time….I know - I’m still dealing with Max Vieri getting a game for Australia and not me.
Yes I know that life has not been easy.
NIKE has done nothing to help you hide your love handles with their cutting edge, aerodynamic, ventilated and reverse ducted heated Socceroos shirts and for heaven’s sake you have to play and train under Gordon Strachan at Middlesborough on a daily basis.
For a long time the two little men your head were a cranky Scot who sees no sense in playing international football and a narrow minded Dutchman who sees no sense in playing international football with two prongs. I and the other Diegos really feel for you.
I know it’s been tough but you have to snap out of it mate.
I urge you to find the joy the in football especially when you’re wearing the green and gold. You score goals for fun in club competition so there’s no reason why you can’t do it on the world stage.
Pull out the tapes of your goals for Celtic against AC Milan and Manchester United in Champions League and play them over and over again and you’ll find the joy. Think back to your Cranbourne days when you debuted as a 15 year old and fathers were throwing their daughters (and at times wives) at you in gratitude for your goals and you’ll find the joy. Go clubbing with Wayne Rooney and the Diegos will guarantee that you find the joy.
Scott if you find the joy everything will be alright.
Let the Diegos be the little men in your head and you will be banging in the goals in no time.
Some free advice - always remember the Diegos motto: When you find goals hard to come by ….don’t freeze, inoculate against this goal disease – just score for fun and then tuck into a dozen pork buns.
No need to thank us – just dedicate your next hat trick for the Socceroos to the Diegos bro.
Love to Gordon and the boys at the Boro’.
Regards
Carlos Alberto Diego
Back to the Real Business of Club Football
After the distraction of international football for the past 10 days we got back to the real business of club football, and this week's matches perhaps raised more questions than they answered.
One question that was answered is that Chelsea is the team to beat again this season. Their preseason form was poor but with a soft early draw and all their guns firing their title defence is on track - they have the rest off the bit and chasing already.
And this title defence is being made easier by the form of their major rivals. Who can believe that Man U would give up two goals in 2 minutes to draw against Everton. Is it a sign that the old resolve is not as strong as it use to be?
In saying that the head of Tim Cahill will be mounted next to Phar Lap as a national icon if he continues to score like he did on the weekend.
Tottenham and Man City, teams doing the most on and off the field the bridge the big 4 divide, must realise that a title is not just built on the names of the players you bring in. Getting up for the big matches is about winning ugly and getting the results you need and you cannot purchase this from the transfer market.
Arsenal is going about their business well but does anyone really believe that they will be able to do the business across the whole season?
As for my team Liverpool one win two draws and a loss is hardly a signature start for Uncle Roy, but the draw for Liverpool has been the toughest of all teams so far, Arsenal, Man City away, Birmingham away(who have not been beaten at home for 17 matches) and now Man U at home.
The one thing I will say, is that Uncle Roy needs to manage our team like we still are a big team. We cannot go to difficult places and play for a draw. We are Liverpool not Fulham.
If Uncle Roy wants some advice about how to win away from home perhaps he should take a trip to the sea and have a chat to the boys from Blackpool.
The final thought for the week, is that this season I will not say that West Ham are too good a team to go down because this year they are a team that should go down.
Warren Diego
Ah the Memories
I wrote last week about the 3 levels of competition in the BPL, and the fact that despite having the talent could Manchester City develop the resolve and determination to challenge over a long season.
Well they failed their first test.
Sunderland is a difficult place to play, but in a game where Manchester City had enough chances to post a cricket score they failed to strike the killer blow, and suffered the consequence via a late winner to the home team.
Winning a title is about talent and depth of squad, but most importantly about resolve. Can a collection of players who are at a club for, lets be honest, the money, find the resolve? I have my doubts.
I finish this week on a high after watching the great match between Blackpool and Fulham, at an old fashion home ground.
For 90 minutes I forgot what year we were in and was almost taken back in time to the 70’s and 80’s - the days of the Big Match football show and old fashioned end to end English football.
Can I borrow the Tradis from Doctor Who - I want to go back to those times. If I can remember rightly this was the time when Liverpool was a powerhouse of English Football.
Ah the memories.
Warren Diego