Of course it’s your decision Jim.
I’m not kidding. I can’t recall watching a worse PL game than Villa v United.
It was awful. Coaches are going to have the game done away with if they keep serving up rubbish like we saw at Villa Park.
Newcastle/City was bad enough for 45 minutes the week before, but the pain went on from start to finish at Villa. At one point I thought I was watching walking football. Dreary doesn’t cover it.
How many times did Martinez and Onana stand outside their box with a foot on the ball? I know the idea is to invite the press and then work the ball out - but no-one ever pressed.
Clearly Villa were feeling the effects of their big night against Bayern, but that’s not really an excuse. If they want to mix it with the big boys they’ve got to do better, especially when there’s nothing to beat in front of you.
United were scared stiff. Putrid again. Ten Hag has excelled beating his own record for their worst ever start. How bad has it got to get before Ratcliffe and the brains trust act?
Sunny Jim told the BBC’s Dan Roan Friday it wasn’t his call whether ten Hag stays or goes. That doesn’t wash Jim. Of course it’s your call.
There’s so much I could say about the shambles at OT, but I’m so tired of it I can’t bring myself to go there again.
It’s beginning to look as though Sunny Jim’s has done it again though. His foray into football hasn't worked out at all well so far. If you want to know what I’m referring to watch this. It’s long but a really well researched piece by the award winning journalist Alfie Potts Harmet. Sunny Jim doesn’t come out of it too well.
We Need To Talk About Sir Jim Ratcliffe
What’s going on at Spurs? Not only did they make complete fools of themselves at Brighton - they did me as well. I really enjoyed watching them in the first 45 at the Amex and said so on beINSPORTS. They were good. And on the back of the win at OT I found myself thinking they might just have got it right at long last.
But oh no. The wheels came off again second-half in a very Spursy way. What is it about them? No wonder big Ange couldn’t take his eyes off the floor when he spoke afterwards! At best - they might win another cup one day, but it looks as though Fergie was right all those years ago - they’ll never win the title again.
Having said that - let’s add that Brighton were terrific as they turned the game on its head. Good luck to them. Regulars know I’ve got a really soft spot for Brighton. Roberto who?
Chelsea/Forest was really good as well. Both teams will hear from the FA as a result of the fight and Nicolas Jackson will be on a charge of his own. How funny was it watching Cole Palmer take a front row seat as manbags were being thrown about? He’s class.
The game was good though. Forest deserved something, despite Chelsea creating 38 attempts at goal. Based on Sunday’s game it would take Villa and United an entire season to make that many chances.
Kai Havertz scored for the seventh consecutive home game v Saints. A year ago we were all scratching our heads wondering why Arsenal had paid £65m for him. I’m sure I’d have had something to say, but fair play to Mikel Arteta. Havertz is now undroppable.
And while we’re on this subject - it looks as though the Arsenal boss was right about changing his keeper as well (hands up) but it was really good to see Aaron Ramsdale get such a good reception on his return to the club.
As Bayern Leverkusen fail to follow up on last season I wonder if Xabi Alonso is having any regrets about bottling a return to Anfield?
Have you seen the top of League One? Never mind Birmingham and Wrexham - how about Mansfield in third place? Nigel Clough is at it again. It’s probably too late for Clough jnr to get another crack at a big club, and that’s a shame. Like Cole Palmer, Clough is a class act. Keep it going Nige.
In his column in the Telegraph today the former head of the PGMOL - Keith Hackett - writes that we saw ‘a number of strange decisions this weekend’. That’s an understatement Keith.
Rashford should’ve gone for two yellows at Villa. He was petulant when he lashed out at Leon Bailey and deserved a second yellow.
Arsenal should’ve had a pen first-half when Havertz was wrestled to the ground v Saints. Palace should’ve had one v Liverpool when van Dijk pulled Guehi back. No foul said the PGMOL’s Matchday centre, claiming van Dijk let go quickly. Really? How come Eriksson was booked for an exact same offence in the opening five minutes at Villa then?
Arsenal’s second should’ve been disallowed. Merino is off-side and clearly affecting play as he goes to head the ball. It’s baffling as to how that was given. Bournemouth had one disallowed that was virtually identical.
And Leicester should’ve had a pen for handball when Zabarnyi handled.
It was a shambles of a weekend, but I guess Howard Webb will tell us his guys have only made one mistake all season on the next episode of Sorry! Nothing to see here…..