Fa Barclaycard Premiership News Update

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 10 November 2008 )

English Premiership football News

FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP - Round Eleven : Who’s hot and who’s not ??

Hot team
Arsenal get the award this week. After three disappointing performances and results from Manchester United is about the last team you want to come to visit. Everyone (including me) was somewhat critical of Arsene Wenger in recent days and almost everyone has an opinion on why Arsenal are simply not good enough.

Wenger and his players answered all the critics emphatically with a fantastic 2-1 victory. They gave metaphorical two fingers to pay tribute to many of us. Hopefully Arsenal can maintain this level of performance because of a good team playing the type of football they play can only be good for The Game.

No hot team
Toulouse have not won in five games and their spectacular collapse on Saturday puts them well under that price. However, Sunderland have only one victory in eight games and their 2-1 defeat at home to Portsmouth on Saturday left at the bottom of their relegation scrap.

Roy Keane has spent a lot of money and players that I have put in place did not really hit it off. He needs to turn things around quickly or it could be a very difficult season for the side of the Stadium of Light.

Hot guard
For the second consecutive week the prize is awarded to Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. It produces a beautiful performance of his team 1-0 at Hull surprise package.

He made several saves breath and take a final earned three valuable points for his team. At the end of The Game, most players have at their Bolton goalkeeper to thank and congratulate. That says it all.

No hot goaltender
Once again this week, there was not really poor goalkeeping performance in the Premier League. I have no reason to take the award away from last week's winner, Scott Carson at West Brom. He did nothing wrong in their 3-0 defeat at Liverpool but he did let in three and he still has to pay for this objective of Croatia to Wembley!

Totally unfair, but I must give it to someone!

Hot defend
It has been the subject of much criticism and abuse in the past two years, but defend Portsmouth Sol Campbell is always a class act.

The former England center half, thirty-four years, is a key player in Portsmouth and outside lose Cisse in early The Game at Sunderland on Saturday, I put in another faultless performance.

Not to defend hot
West Ham looked assured of three points Saturday during their 1-0 against Everton with only seven minutes. Then a remarkable Everton scored three goals in four minutes. A close look shows that these goals West Ham central defense James Collins fell asleep for two goals and I will not be happy when he sees replays of the goals. Neither Gianfranco Zola.

Hot Midfielder
Not much doubt about what price this week he goes to Arsenal Samir Nasri. He did not put the fire in the world since his arrival at the club and has not really settled as the club would have liked.

However, it is clearly a decent player and his two goals against Manchester United has lifted its rule of the Arsenal faithful to new heights. As its objectives, death and the pace of work have been phenomenal. I certainly arrive at the Emirates.

No hot Midfielder
Steve Sidwell has not had much chance to prove himself or Chelsea to Aston Villa. It is a hard working and talented player, but its terrible 88th minute that passes back Middlesbrough gave an unlikely 2-1 victory at Villa Park means that I must take the prize this week.

Hot Striker
A few candidates for this award as usual. Robbie Keane Band to prepare for Liverpool, Andy Johnson continued his scoring form at Fulham, Louis Saha announced his arrival at Everton with a pair and the much criticized Darren Bent continued his new lease of life under Harry Redknapp in Tottenham.

Despite all these worthy candidates, I give the award to Nicolas Anelka, an attacker who I have always criticized. His two goals for Chelsea in Blackburn took his team to lead the pack and took personal correspondence to increase, the best start in the league.

Striker not hot
Wigan by Amr Zaki began the season in exceptional form and waiting for everyone to be one of the Premier League the most signatures during the summer.

He recently lost his form early in the season and Wigan have slipped down the table. I had a glorious chance on Saturday headed in the dreadful 0-0 draw with Stoke but missed the target by a very long way.

I have no doubt that Zaki will again be good but for the moment, I spent from hot to not.
by soccernews.