On a weekend in which almost every ground in the country marked the sad passing of football legend George Best on Friday 25th November, some stirringly exciting football served as a fitting marker to his memory.
Saturday saw Arsenal, as predicted, prove too strong for Blackburn Rovers and were worth their 3-0 victory. Aston Villa did very well to earn their second consecutive victory and hand visitors Charlton Athletic their second consecutive defeat; Manchester City should have beaten Liverpool but stuttered again and lost 0-1; whilst Sunderland lost the basement battle with Birmingham 0-1 and are starting to look doomed already.
The game of the day saw Wigan Athletic fall from second place, just being shaded 1-2 by an invigorated Tottenham Hotspur, whilst runaway leaders Chelsea had an easy evening's work brushing aside managerless Portsmouth 0-2.
Sunday offered a veritable marathon of football spanning almost six hours, starting with Everton v Newcastle United, which most years you'd fancy Everton to win and indeed they did, turning round their recent poor run with a 1-0 win over the subdued Geordies. Fulham were impressive against Bolton Wanderers, winning 2-1 thanks to two goals from American striker Brian McBride.
Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough were severely tested by Bryan Robson's West Bromwich Albion and were relieved to finish 2-2. Manchester United's moving appearance at West Ham ended happily for the Red Devils, winning 1-2 thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney and John O'Shea after going behind in the first minute.
A good weekend for Chelsea, United, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Everton but bad news for Wigan, Bolton, Man City, West Ham and Charlton, who all tumble down the current Premiership League table.
This round-up is cross posted as Premiership Roundup Week 14 on About Manchester United.
Article comments
1 - Tony
It was an emotional win for United. I am pissed at the Liverpool, Leeds, and Man City fans. The guy is one of the best players that has ever played in the Permiership and for them not to even give a minute's silence is ridculious.
2 - Christopher Rose
Hey Tony, nice to see you on BlogCritics. Hope you stick around...
And yes, Liverpool, Leeds and City are all just pondlife!
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Out of curiosity, how many teams make the playoffs/postseason?
4 - Christopher Rose
They don't have playoffs in the Premiership, Matthew, it's winner takes all.
I believe it's all different in the three division Football League however; the teams coming 3rd to 6th inclusive have playoffs to determine which of them will be the third team promoted at the end of each season.
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
Promoted? You mean teams can actually move up and down leagues?
6 - Christopher Rose
Heck yes! There is serious social, cultural and financial stuff at stake here. Do they not do that in US sports? How very "socialist"! It's all about survival of the fittest over here.
Then there are the amazingly epic romantic stories; the current heroes must be Wigan Athletic, who have gone all the way from non-League football in 1978 to 4th place in the Premier League today.
Anything is possible in the beautiful game!
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Actually I'm not too surprised. I play this online game called Bush League Baseball which is one of many fantasy games ran by Cat Games based in London. And teams every season move up and down leagues.
The U.S. does not move teams up and down any league system in the professional ranks. The collegiate athletic system (NCAA) does have a divisional system but it's based mainly on enrollment and size of their athletic department, but if a team makes a jump from Div. II to Div. I (highest) or from Div. I-AA to Div. I-A (American football) it's a really, really big change for the program.
Professional baseball and hockey have farm systems with minor league teams, and players do move up and down those.
If a team is perpetually bad (last place every year) and has a great year one year, it's a pretty cool story. But in the pro ranks, they play the same teams every year for the most part.
8 - Christopher Rose
Matthew, I played Cat Games' Manchester United Sunday League Football Manager game for a couple of years, it's probably the same game engine as BLB!
Man, I was completely unaware that your sports were so sterile. For a country that prides itself on the natural selection that is capitalism, that sure is a mighty Communist system you have there! Must have been developed by intelligent design. LOL!!
9 - Matthew T. Sussman
The sports leagues here are very socialist. But some of them (baseball) fall under antitrust, whatever that means.
Baseball's the only sport without a salary cap, and even in that there's revenue sharing. Sharing!