What could Suarez gain from not shaking?
Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face. Whatever Suarez felt about the situation with Evra, he should have shaken hands and let his feet do the talking. Instead he played the pantomime villain in front of a global audience. Utterly pointless behaviour.
Has Rafa sewn up the right back spot?
A few players have tried their arm at right back for Manchester United since the departures of Wesley Brown and John O’Shea. Smalling and Jones have been decent there but they are both centre backs in waiting. Rafael Da Silva looked, for a year or two, like he might be a bit of a liability in defence. Recent performances have laid those doubts to rest however. If he can stay free of the niggling injuries and head on collisions, he can become United’s first choice right back for the next decade or so.
Has Kenny blown it?
Patrick Collins summed up the current perception of Kenny Dalglish very well when he said of the hitherto legend.
‘Every time he opens his mouth, he seems to grow a little smaller.’ Daily Mail
It’s sad but true. When he returned to Liverpool I thought it was the perfect choice. He may well still succeed, but Saturday felt like a symbolic moment in Kenny’s career. His recent behaviour has arguably been naive and his signings so far have been questionable. Furthermore, he doesn’t seem able to affect games from the touch line like some other contemporaries. His reaction to the goal that Liverpool pulled back on Saturday was more that of a fan than a tactician. He was simply trying to will Liverpool to win. It’s all too visceral.
Scholes at Euro 2012?
From afterthought to near obsession, soccersweep is absolutely loving the Paul Scholes story as it continues to unfold in all its splendour. He is finding match fitness again and we now think that The Ginger Prince is a nailed on certainty for the Euro 2012 first XI. Harry Redknapp would definitely take him. On this form who wouldn’t? He bossed the game again on Saturday. The Liverpool midfield couldn’t get near him.
Can United be stopped?
Manchester City are still favourites and they had an important win yesterday, which will breathe new confidence into the ranks. But how many times have we written United off and ended up with free range portions of egg all over our chops? How important is it that United have been there before while City haven’t? Manchester United are 2 points behind but, having still to go to Middle Eastlands, their fate is in their hands. It should be a very exciting finish and Roberto Mancini’s nerve will be tested to the limit by the notorious Fergie mind games come April.
