Three Things We Learned This Weekend

We All Owe Mancini An Apology

Roberto Mancini has never had an easy ride in the English press.  He's been accused of being "too defensive", of being "happy to not lose games rather than wanting to win".  Some have even said he was tactically naive, firm in the belief that City will never win the league with the Italian at the helm.  

The Urbanite had the same beliefs, and with valid reasons (remember the away games at Arsenal and Liverpool, anyone?), but this season Mancini has unleashed all the shackles on his team and told them to go for it.  And go for it  they have.  They have now scored 14 goals in three games, two of those away from home, and in Mario Ballotelli a player that ceases to surprise as he asks 'Why Always Me?'.  

City can definitely win the league and are rightfully favourites.  If they continue spanking teams home and away they will walk away with it.  Ferguson has some work on his hands.  

It's Time to Take Newcastle Seriously

Who would have thought that Alan Pardew would be sitting comfortably nine games into the season after the summer Newcastle have had.  Failure to sign a striker to replace Andy Carroll, Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan leaving in acrimony and furthering tensions between the owner and the fans left many pundits predicting Pardew being the second manager (after Steve Keane) to lose his job.  

But the Newcastle manager has created a solid team this season that has left the Toon Army asking "who "was that Andy Carroll guy anyway?" and forgetting that they still have 35 million still in the bank.  Players like Ryan Taylor, Jonas Gutierrez and Demba Ba have all contributed stellar performances and Newcastle can comfortably aim for a top ten finish.  

Some papers have got a bit carried away, with talk of a push for fourth place.  But Newcastle can go places if they build on these performances and strengthen in January - if Mike Ashley can put his hand in his pocket for once in his life Newcastle can be a force once again.  

Liverpool May Not Be Clinical Enough For a 4th Place Finish

Liverpool are not in a crisis.  They have produced some good performances this season, playing the kind of football that King Kenny himself would have been proud of.  But despite the free flowing football, the  Reds only sit two points above an Arsenal team that was in turmoil and one point behind Spurs, who have a game in hand.  

All this is because Liverpool have an inability to kill off games.  It was something that creeped into the Benitez era, with the team enjoying a lot of possession but failing to create enough chances to win the game.  Under Dalglish, Suarez and co have been creating multiple chances but have been wasteful in front of goal.  Against Norwich, the Uruguayan broke the record for having the most attempts on goal, yet scored none.  

Now no-one would criticise Suarez for his performances this season, as the striker has bedazzled defenders and spectators alike.  But Liverpool fans will worry that until they begin to convert all this good play, they run the risk of losing ground on their rivals.   

Three Things We Learned This Weekend

Mario Can Be Super....When He Wants To Be


Is there a Premier League footballer that is more annoying and frustrating than Mario Balotelli? Leave aside his tendency to sulk around the football pitch, his disregard for his teammates when he refuses to pass and tries an elaborate flick, even his over inflated ego.

No, he is frustrating because it is so clear that he has a large amount of talent that he is not utilising on a weekly basis.  On Saturday at Ewood Park we saw glimpses of the potential that Man City invested 20 odd million pounds for, albeit against a Blackburn side who may have to sit their defence 101 classes again.

The Italian has now scored in each of his three last appearances and was unlucky to only score once against Blackburn, hitting the post and side netting in a game where he had seven attempts on goal (the most by a player that weekend).

If Balotelli can replicate this form over the course of a season, most City fans will be forget all about the moody Argentinean who refuses to play and will be singing the name of Super Mario.

Gabby Agbonlahor Has Proved To Be A Free Replacement For Ashley Young 


Under Gerard Houllier, Gabriel Agbonlahor was a cut figure.  He only scored 3 goals in 35 league appearances, with his performances matching his poor goalscoring record.  Many Villa fans were glad to see the back of Houllier, but none more so than Gabby himself, who has now found a new lease of life under Alex Mcleish (who the Villa fans again were not happy with).

In seven games, Agbonlahor has already surpassed last season's tally and has been a great provider of goals for Villa.  His assist for Darren Bent on Saturday was inch perfect, and everyone still remembers his goal on the first day of the season which was immense.

There is one clear reason why Agbonlahor has been so successful this season.  Coming in from the flanks, Agbonlahor has been deadly in the same position that Ashley Young revelled in last season.  It suits him well, allowing him to cut in on the inside and turn provider for the deadly predator that is Darren Bent.

If he continues on this form, Young may have some competition for his starting place in the England team.

Never Bet On The Unpredictable QPR 


With characters like Neil Warnock and Joey Barton in the same dressing room, every day must be a different and eventful day at QPR.

The same thing goes for their games.  One week Rangers are irresistible, putting in the kind of performances that merited their Championship winners trophy last year.  Other weeks, however, QPR still look like a Championship team.  On Sunday against a Fulham side going through problems of their own, Rangers were awful, shipping 6 goals against a team that boasts Bobby Zamora as its most prolific striker.

Warnock may be able to keep Rangers up, even get them into the top half of the table, but for now QPR will be kept well away from my accumulators and coupons, as I am unable to predict which QPR turns up.  

Three Things We Learned This Weekend

Modric's Head Has Not Been Turned By Chelsea


The will he won't he move to Chelsea saga had us all bored this summer as nobody truly believed Daniel Levy when he said that Modric was not for sale.  But contrary to reports, Modric really was 'not for sale' as Spurs proved to the Premier League that they were serious 4th place contenders and not a 'selling club'.

Many of us wondered what this meant for Modric's career at Tottenham this season, as his determination to move to Chelsea was clear for all to see.  Harry Redknapp claimed that he had no worries, calling Modric a model professional, and after his performance against Liverpool on Sunday old 'Arry was vindicated.

It wasn't just the way he took his goal that was impressive.  Modric, alongside Parker, tore Liverpool's midfield to shreds as Lucas and Adam chased shadows for most of the afternoon (well until Adam was sent off that is, then it was Jordan Henderson who became the headless chicken).  They played triangles around Liverpool's middle two and dictated the game from the first minute until the end.  His touch, vision and all round game was world class and it is no wonder why Chelsea and Abrahamovic were so keen to recruit him this summer.

Whether Modric moves to Chelsea at the end of the season or not it is clear that, for the meantime at least, his heart is at White Hart Lane.

The Football Season is Well And Truly Back!

Arsenal struggle to kill off a game away from home, Fernando Torres fails to score for Chelsea, Liverpool start well but die in the second half and Man United score a late goal to win a game. It looks like the Barclays Premier League is well and truly back and nothing has changed at all!

We have spent most of the summer debating what will happen this season and with the transfer merry go-round nearly over we at The Urbanite feel obliged to share our wacky season predictions with the world, along with those of our closest friends.

So here are our predictions.  Feel free to scrutinise, criticise and chip in with your own views as well.  Oh, and the guy with the correct top 6 and bottom 3 predictions will win an unnamed prize.  Well we say it is unnamed, we just haven't thought of it yet.

Enjoy: