Three Things We Learned This Week

The annual crazy christmas football period is upon us.  Added to the usual agony of watching your team play what seems like 10 games in 5 days, this season we've also had to cope with racism cases and refereeing blunders.  In terms of actual football, last week saw some great games and great goals and once again proved why winter breaks will not be coming into the Premier League any time soon.  

Here's the three things that we learnt. 

Three Things We Learned This Weekend

Arsenal May Have Done It Once Before, But It Is Virtually Impossible To Go Unbeaten For the Whole Season


Just a few seconds after 8pm, when Mario Balotelli rounded Cech and slotted the ball into an empty net, even the most die-hard Chelsea fan did not truly believe that the Londoners were going to be ending Man City's status as the only unbeaten side in the country.  Chelsea just did not look up to the job, what with their ludicrously high line and leaky defence.  An hour and a half later, however, and Roberto Mancini was facing his first defeat of the season and questions were being asked of his team for the first time in a while.

Three Things We Learned This Weekend

The Urbanite's weekly football round-up is back by popular demand.  After an eventful weekend of football, here are the three key things we learned:

Man Utd Do Get Dodgy Decisions Given Against Them at Old Trafford


Ask any seasoned football fan, and they will tell you that Man Utd always get favourable decisions at Old Trafford.  Remember Wayne Rooney's dive that ended Arsenal's 49 game unbeaten run?  Or how about the countless times Christiano Ronaldo fell over in the penalty box, unaided by nothing other than the wind, only for the referee to point to the penalty spot.

Well this weekend, Mike Jones (the referee, not the rapper) showed us that like swings and roundabouts, dodgy decisions at Old Trafford do go round full circle.  The blame cannot all fall on referee Jones, who had initially given a corner and only changed his mind after the linesman flagged for a penalty.  Blame should also go to Hatem Ben Arfa, whose claim for the penalty was as ludicrous as it was dishonest.

It is, however, hard for one to feel sympathy for a team that continuously gets dodgy decisions in their favour.  For one of the first times, Sir Alex Ferguson will know what it is like to come away from Old Trafford feeling cheated.  And maybe that may change his stance the next time one of his players goes down like a ton of bricks in the box and 'wins' United a penalty.

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.

Three Things We Learned This Weekend

Yes, we know. Slightly late. But here goes!

Swansea Lack The Firepower to Stay Up


0 goals in 3 games makes the headline above seem like the understatement of the season.  But after watching Swansea score goals for fun last season we at The Urbanite had high hopes that Swansea would become the Blackpool of the 2011/2012 season and entertain us with free flowing, high scoring football.  Sadly, that has not been the case.