Spurs Humiliate Wigan, Gunners Title Hopes Fade, and Chelsea Roll On

by Willie Gannon… The last time we had Premiership action, it finished with a David Ngog dive. Then we were bestowed with “the hand of Gaul” as France beat Ireland in the playoffs for the World Cup. So it was with great trepidation that we went back into the full scale battle that is the EPL. Chelsea once again showed that they are the team to beat this year, Arsenal’s title credentials were left in tatters, and Liverpool continued to stumble.

Chelsea 4-0 Wolves

The Pensioners were without a number of first team players as they entertained Wolves at Stamford Bridge. If there was ever a game that was a simple paint by the numbers exercise, then this was it. Chelsea was so superior to Mick McCarthy’s side that you almost thought they were playing a different sport.

Florent Malouda got the first goal of the game after his 40 yard run to outside the Wolves box, his strike would still be travelling today if it was not for the net, it was that powerful. Michael Essien then scored a brace as Ancellotti took the shackles off the Ghanaian in Lampard’s absence. Essien is a truly phenomenal midfielder, one of the few exponents operating today that can do absolutely everything, brilliantly. Chelsea have not even seen what he is capable of bar the odd time he is allowed to play.

Joe Cole also scored his first goal this season after coming back from an awful injury. Exactly what Fabio Capello needed him to do. While the most famous teenager never to have played came on for Nicolas Anelka and looked decent, Gael Kakuta.

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City

Liverpool’s run without a win now stretched to ten games…Rafa is coming under further pressure, but at least Manchester City did not win. If that particular scenario had occured then the ground the Spaniard walks upon would have become even shakier.

Two players carried off in the first ten minutes did not help matters, but Liverpool still went on to dominate a strangely subdued City who lacked any kind of ambition.

Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal

The Black Cats have been the surprise side this season. Drawing away to United and beating Liverpool, Steve Bruce’s team were always going to be a difficult proposition for an Arsenal team missing the influential Robin van Persie. Without the Dutchman in the team it was difficult to see where the goals were going to come from.

Arsenal was pretty mute for the entire game while Sunderland were well deserving of all three points. Andy Reid received a standing ovation when he was substituted half way through the second half and one must wonder what kind of influence he might have had in Paris on Wednesday.

As it was, Darren Bent scored the solitary goal and if Arsenal fans face the truth, it pretty much ends their title challenge this year. And it will be completely over if they do not take all three points against Chelsea next week.

Tottenham Hotspur 9-1 Wigan

The surprise result of the weekend. Especially when you consider that this Wigan team have beaten both Chelsea and Aston Villa in recent weeks.

Spurs were always favourites to win this game and taking their 1-0 lead into the second half the game was poised on a knife edge. Eight second half goals battered Wigan into submission and Jermaine Defoe bagged five of those. It was a truly phenomenal performance by a team obviously enjoying life at the moment.

The result moves Spurs five points clear of Liverpool in the battle for fourth.

Elsewhere:

Hull came from two down against West Ham to lead 3-2 before succumbing to a Da Costa equalizer. The 3-3 result wasn’t really what either under pressure manager wanted, but it was a damn sight better than losing.

David Dunn scored and inspired Blackburn’s 2-0 win over Bolton at the Reebok. It was accomplished without Big Sam who had undergone a minor heart operation in the build up to the game. Get well soon.

Aston Villa had John Carew to thank as he scored four minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Burnley . The Clarets have had a number of good results recently and Owen Coyle deserves much credit. Don’t be surprised to see him mentioned as one half of the new Scotland set up.

Birmingham beat Fulham 1-0 . Quite possibly the worst ever game in Premiership history.

Stoke continued their good start to the season with a 1-0 win over lowly Portsmouth . Due mainly to Thomas Sorenson, who has been the best ‘keeper in the EPL over the last 12 months, especially when you consider who he has to play with.

And finally…Manchester United hammered Everton 3-0 at Old Trafford . The result was never in question, but the implications of how far Everton are off the top four could could back to haunt them. Young Jack Rodwell is being chased by every manager who is half decent, and Manchester United are no exception. He could be moving to Old Trafford in January. The Red Devils application form was devastating to say the least.

10 Statements after Gameday 13.

1) The Arsenal-Chelsea match next week is a cup final for the Gunners.

2) As I’ve said before, Spurs can expose anyone. Outside the top four.

3) The Aston Villa-Spurs match next week is massive for both clubs ambitions this year.

4) The race for fourth includes: Villa, Man City, Spurs, and Liverpool. The Reds are the clear favourites but both Spurs and City will spend heavily in January if they are in good positions.

5) Who will be go first? Rafa or Hughes?

6) Gael Kakuta was the most famous footballer never to have played. He looks good.

7) England has serious problems outside their first XI.

Any team that buys Matthew Upson for £15 million needs their head examined.

9) Ruud van Nistelrooy, available in January. But where will he go? Back to United? Liverpool? Spurs, if they sell Keane? Arsenal?

10) Who will win the World Cup? Some might say that France’s name is on the cup after Wednesday…

I’ll Still Take Jose Over T.J., Raps Run Past Pacers

by Jeremy Visser… Hope is restored, citizens of Toronto! The Raptors got our beloved city back in the win column last night, jumping on the Pacers with 74 first half points en route to a 123-112 win at the ACC. Of course, it wasn’t without the usual second half fun: This time the Raptors saw a 21-point lead slip to five (the fourth time in five home wins they’ve come close to blowing huge leads) before rallying late and putting it away.

Jose Calderon led the Raptors with 21 points on 8-of-11, effectively getting to the hoop early and knocking down a handful of jumpers in what was probably his strongest game of the year. Jarrett Jack continued his recent string of solid play, going 7-of-7 and finishing with 18 points and six assists in 30 minutes off the bench against his former mates.

Calderon and Jack’s efforts weren’t the only strong ones for Toronto, whose first half output was its best since 1999 — Hedo Turkoglu and Andrea Bargnani each had efficient 14-point outings, with Bargnani coming on strong after a sluggish, foul-plagued start. Chris Bosh was just 5-of-19 but had 12 boards and a few big second half blocks.

In all, another up-tempo, catch-me-if-you-can type game for the Raps — a style of play that Toronto fans are going to need to adjust to if they haven’t already. The win bumps the Raps to 7-8 — good for seventh in the East — with a road date in Charlotte tonight.

That’s what I’m saying, guy…

Toronto Maple Leafs: Is Christian Hanson the Right Choice?

by Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano… With Johnny Mitchell on the shelf, the question of who to bring up to the big club to fill his shoes was quickly answered with the name, Christian Hanson. Another name mentioned was that of Ryan Hamilton.

Hanson is leading the Toronto Marlies in goals (eight) and points (18) and has been their best player this year.

After getting 61 shots on the Islanders goalie Dwayne Roloson and yet only coming away with three goals to show for the effort, they had to find someone who has been bulging the twine.

Hanson is also a big physical guy who’s not scared to mix it up. He’s from southern Canada or as the Americans call it, Pennsylvania, and played hockey for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

As we all know he’s a son of famed hockey cult movie Slapshot star Dave Hanson.

When he first laced up the skates for the Blue and White last year after being signed, he played five games scoring one goal and one assist. Fans young and old alike were wearing wigs and glasses at the games. His presence seemed to bring some enjoyment to the fans that had otherwise nothing to be excited about.

He has since, with his numbers down on the farm, begun his own hockey legacy, which all Leafs fans hope is a great one.

He seemed to be able to keep up with the flow of the game last year though it must have been overwhelming and with an uninspired team around him it most likely wasn’t the best situation.

At the beginning of this season I thought he would have a spot on the team on a sort of kid line with perhaps Bozak and Stalberg.

Dream on!

You know that hope you have as part of Leafs Nation that you wish a coach and GM would just let a group of three young forwards form that kid-line and allow them to gel and grow together expecting a few mistakes along the way.

Yeah well it never seems to happen, dashed hopes on a yearly basis as the kids get stuffed down on the farm and then traded for an old dog.

Brad Boyes still a sore spot for me.

But Brian Burke apparently has a different plan and he said he’s building with youth and from within.

Glad to see one of them getting a shot. I think he is the obvious choice as the Leafs need some scoring. I’d like to see more of the young guys, as it doesn’t seem as though things could get much worse.